Sonia Minnes, the Verna Houck Motto Professor, was part of a research team that investigated how maternal childhood trauma (MCT) influences the aggressive behavior of offspring over time.
The research team used a longitudinal approach in a high-risk, primarily African American urban sample. Assessing mother-child dyads from preschool to preadolescence, the researchers found that MCT indirectly impacts children’s aggressive behavior through maternal psychological distress. They concluded that this association suggests a need for interventions that support trauma-informed maternal care and healthy child development. Additionally, the study highlighted the detrimental role of postnatal violence exposure in exacerbating aggression, emphasizing its importance in preventive strategies aimed at fostering adaptive child behavior.
Their paper, titled “Maternal Childhood Trauma and Children’s Developmental Course of Aggressive Behavior from Ages 4 to 12,” was published in the Psychology of Violence journal.