Unresolved trauma in mothers: Intergenerational effects and the role of reorganization

Authors: IYENGAR, UDITA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); KIM, SOHYE - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); MARTINEZ, SHEILA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); FONAGY, PETER - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); STRATHEARN, LANE - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Frontiers in Psychology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/13/2014
Publication Date: 9/1/2014
Citation: Iyengar, U., Kim, S., Martinez, S., Fonagy, P., Strathearn, L. 2014. Unresolved trauma in mothers: Intergenerational effects and the role of reorganization. Frontiers in Psychology. 5:966.

Interpretive Summary: A mothers who experiences childhood trauma that is not psychologically processed or resolved (labeled "unresolved trauma") may have difficulty engaging with her own child. This study examines the concept of attachment "reorganization," which means that a person is changing their understanding of past and present attachment experience and moving towards a more balanced representation of these experiences. We conducted a study of mothers with unresolved trauma, their interaction with their infants, and how their infants responded to them over time. Forty-seven mothers participated with their child at 11 months post-partum in a study to look at mother and child interaction in mothers with and without unresolved trauma. We found that mothers with unresolved trauma universally displayed characteristics of insecure attachment in adulthood, and were more likely to have infants with insecure attachment. The one exception, however, was that all mothers with unresolved trauma who were "reorganizing" toward secure attachment also had infants with secure attachment. These findings suggest that mothers who are reorganizing may be able to respond to their infants in a more positive way, which may impact the development of attachment security in their offspring. While our results need to be studied in a larger group of mothers, this study is the first to explore the idea of reorganization and its possible relationship with child attachment outcomes.

Technical Abstract: A mother's unresolved trauma may interfere with her ability to sensitively respond to her infant, thus affecting the development of attachment in her own child, and potentially contributing to the intergenerational transmission of trauma. One novel construct within the Dynamic Maturational Model of Attachment and Adaptation (DMM) coding of the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) is "reorganization", a process where by speakers are actively changing their understanding of past and present experiences and moving toward attachment security. We conducted a study of mothers with unresolved trauma, exploring their own attachment classification, attachment outcomes of their children, and the potential effects of reorganization on child attachment. Forty-seven first-time mothers participated in the AAI during pregnancy, and returned with their child at 11 months to assess child attachment using the Strange Situation Procedure. Mothers with and without unresolved trauma were compared. We found that mothers with unresolved trauma had insecure attachment themselves and were more likely to have infants with insecure attachment. However, the one exception was that all of the mothers with unresolved trauma who were reorganizing toward secure attachment had infants with secure attachment. These preliminary findings suggest that mothers who are reorganizing may be able to more sensitively respond to their child's cues, contributing to the development of secure attachment. While our results need to be replicated in a larger cohort, this study is the first to explore the construct of reorganization and its potential relationship with child attachment. If confirmed in future studies, it may provide clinical insight into the intergenerational transmission of insecure attachment within the context of unresolved trauma.