Maternal Intimate Partner Violence Predicts Profiles of Maternal Disrupted Interaction

Purpose: Extensive research demonstrates that disrupted maternal interaction shapes child affect and behavior. Additionally, research indicates that intimate partner violence (IPV) can negatively impact parenting behaviors. The purpose of the current study was to 1) identify profiles of maternal disrupted interaction and 2) examine IPV as a predictor of disrupted behavior profiles. 
 

Methods: 150 mother-infant dyads participated in the Harvard Mother-Infant Neurobiological Development study. At infant age 4 months, dyads completed the Still Face Procedure. Maternal disrupted interaction was rated using the Atypical Maternal Behavior Instrument for Assessment and Classification (AMBIANCE), which yields five subscales: Affective communication errors, disorientation, negative intrusiveness, role confusion, and withdrawal. Mothers completed the revised Conflict Tactics Scale to assess IPV experiences. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted to derive patterns of disrupted maternal interaction based on the AMBIANCE scales. IPV was explored as a predictor of profile membership.
 
Findings: The LPA resulted in a three-profile solution. The first profile was characterized by Optimal Interaction (39% of mothers, n=58), the second profile was characterized by Inappropriate/Intrusive Interaction (51% of mothers, n=75), and the third profile was characterized by Withdrawing Interaction (10% of mothers, n=14). Higher IPV ratings increased the likelihood of inclusion in the Inappropriate/Intrusive Interaction profile (OR= 1.027, SE= 0.012, p < .05) compared to the Optimal Interaction profile.
 

Conclusion: Mothers who reported experiencing more IPV were more likely to have an Inappropriate/Intrusive profile of interaction, characterized by high levels of negative/intrusive behavior and affective communication errors, as well as role confusion and disorientation. This study adds to the existing research regarding the intergenerational impact of trauma and can be utilized to inform treatment efforts for mothers experiencing IPV.