Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as maltreatment and poverty, are commonly reported by women during the perinatal period. Although maternal ACEs have been found to significantly influence offspring development, the mechanisms currently linking maternal ACEs to socioemotional functioning during infancy remain largely unknown. The current study aimed to address this gap in the literature by examining whether internalizing symptoms during pregnancy mediate the association between maternal ACEs and infant temperament at two months. Moreover, this study investigated whether parenting practices during the postpartum period may buffer against the negative effects associated with maternal ACEs and prenatal internalizing symptoms on infant temperament. Secondary analyses were performed with existing data from a study investigating how factors such as nutrition, physical health, and psychosocial stress during pregnancy influence the development of infant temperament and stress reactivity (N=64). Participants completed several questionnaires during their third trimester of pregnancy, including measures assessing their early-life adversity as well as current depression and anxiety symptoms. At two months postpartum, mothers were administered an assessment measuring their infant's temperament and also participated in a parent-child interaction task designed to assess maternal sensitivity/responsiveness. Maternal ACEs was found to indirectly relate to the infant's ability to recover from stress via internalizing symptoms during pregnancy. Maternal sensitivity was also shown to moderate the effects of maternal ACEs and prenatal internalizing symptoms on infant temperament at two months. These results have implications for mental health screening procedures during pregnancy as well as the development of early intervention programs for infants born to mothers with early-life adversity
