Abused Women Less Likely To Be Emotionally Connected With Their Children

Women who undergo traumatic experiences in their early life don't connect emotionally with their children, according to a new study.

The study was conducted by researchers from University of Notre Dame who found that mothers who had a traumatic past were reluctant to talk to their children about emotions.

These mothers displayed a condition called "traumatic avoidance symptoms," in which the person doesn't talk about emotions or thoughts that may link with the traumatic event. Researchers found that these mothers had little in-depth conversations with their children and were more likely to keep their questions close-ended, making it difficult for kids to participate.

"Traumatic avoidance symptoms have been shown to have a negative impact on the cognitive and emotional development of children," said Kristin Valentino from University of Notre Dame said in a news release.

Being abused as a child leads to a lifetime of problems for many people. Previous research on abuse during childhood has shown that abuse can cause several chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. Effects of trauma faced in childhood stays on in later life due to the changes in immune response and increased levels of stress factors.

In women, research has found that experiencing abuse at a young age can lead to early or late menarche.

"This research is important because it identifies a mechanism through which we can understand how maternal trauma history relates to her ability to effectively interact with her child. This finding also has implications for intervention work, since avoidance that is used as a coping mechanism is likely to further impair psychological functioning," Valentino said.

The study was presented at the Society for Research in Child Development 2013 Biennial Meeting in Seattle.

The good news is that researchers have already shown that parents with a traumatic past can be taught how to emotionally bond with their children. This study is published in the journal Child Abuse and Neglect.