Abstract
BACKGROUND: Exposure to childhood maltreatment (CM) increases risk for psychiatric disorders and maladaptive outcomes across the lifespan, including the transition into parenthood. Mothers with histories of CM are more likely to experience poorer mental health and engage in negative parenting practices. Maternal CM influences parenting behaviors, potentially leading to adolescent maladaptive outcomes. This study examines the effects of maternal CM on adolescent emotional and behavioral difficulties, focusing on how mothers' and adolescents' perceptions of parental psychological control (PPC) mediate these relationships. METHODS: We analyzed data from 148 mother-adolescent dyads recruited for a longitudinal investigation of early life stress and psychopathology. Mothers completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire assessing CM, and both mothers and adolescents reported perceptions of PPC. Adolescents reported internalizing and externalizing problems 2-4 years later. Mediation analyses assessed maternal CM's effects on adolescent behavioral problems, examining adolescent- and mother-reported PPC as mediators. RESULTS: Maternal childhood abuse significantly predicted adolescent externalizing problems, mediated by adolescents' perceptions of PPC. Higher maternal childhood abuse correlated with increased adolescent-reported PPC, which was associated with greater externalizing problems. Mother-reported PPC did not mediate this association, highlighting adolescents' perceptions. Maternal neglect had no significant direct or indirect effects on adolescent outcomes, or on adolescent- or mother-reported PPC. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the importance of adolescents' perceptions of parenting in understanding the effects of maternal childhood abuse on externalizing problems. Lack of findings for maternal neglect highlights the need to identify alternative mechanisms by which neglect may affect adolescent functioning. Interventions promoting positive mother-adolescent relationships could improve adolescent psychosocial outcomes.