ACEs, loneliness, and discrimination predicted higher maternal depression and anxiety, while partner support and family strength predicted lower depression, with loneliness exacerbating the ACEs-depression association in a racially diverse sample of mothers of toddlers.
ACEs significantly predicted higher maternal depression and anxiety in a racially diverse sample of mothers of toddlers.
Loneliness predicted higher maternal depression and anxiety.
Discrimination predicted higher maternal depression and anxiety.
Partner support and family strength predicted lower maternal depression.
Loneliness moderated the association between ACEs and depression, such that loneliness exacerbated the ACEs-depression relationship.
The study applied a developmental-ecological framework to understand maternal mental health by considering both individual and contextual factors alongside ACEs.
The study was conducted in the context of COVID-19, with resource worries related to the pandemic included as a covariate.
This research suggests that mothers who experienced more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)—such as abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction during childhood—were more likely to experience depression and anxiety as adults. The study examined 334 racially diverse mothers of toddlers in the United States and found that feeling lonely and experiencing discrimination also independently contributed to poorer mental health outcomes. Importantly, mothers who felt lonely and also had high ACEs were at especially elevated risk for depression, suggesting these two factors compound each other. On the protective side, this research suggests that having a supportive partner and strong family connections were associated with lower rates of maternal depression. These findings point to both the lasting harm of childhood adversity and the importance of present-day social support and structural stressors like discrimination in shaping a mother's mental well-being. The practical implication of this work is that mental health interventions for mothers should not focus solely on past trauma but should also address current stressors like loneliness and discrimination, while actively strengthening social and family support networks. Because the sample was racially diverse—including Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander, and multiracial mothers—the authors emphasize the need for culturally responsive care. Addressing maternal mental health is particularly important because untreated depression and anxiety in mothers can have ripple effects on children and families, potentially passing adversity across generations.
Silletti F, Lin H, Ma C, Mittal L, Erdei C, Roffman J, et al.. (2026). Reframing Mental Health Through a Developmental-Ecological Lens: Childhood Adversity, Discrimination, and Family Connections in a Racially Diverse Maternal Sample.. Family process. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.70163