Maternal childhood trauma and postpartum well-being in a Turkish sample: The path from attachment to alexithymia

Childhood traumas predispose adult individuals to develop insecure attachment styles in close relationships and alexithymia features causing limitations emotional capacity. For new mothers, postpartum is a period itself that may increase mood problems such as depression anxiety mothers question their efficacy maternal role. Thus, the purpose of current research was examine relationship between childhood trauma, problems, self-efficacy via serial mediation alexithymia. A sample Turkish with healthy singleton infants (N = 63, Mage 29.19) participated research. Mothers filled out Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form, Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy Tool, CES-Depression Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Experiences Close Relationships Inventory-II, Toronto Alexithymia Scale during home visit when were one month old. In statistical analyses, PROCESS macro for multiple applied. The results indicated trauma serially mediated by anxious and, turn, On other hand, mediator roles on not significant; rather, direct effect significant. Findings suggest anxious, rather than avoidant, attachment, intervention targets buffer effects self-efficacy, which consequently prevent intergenerational transmission risk.