Psicología anormal y del comportamiento

The Impact of Maternal Eating Disorders and Spousal support on Neurodevelopmental Trajectories in their Toddlers

Abstract

Shiri Sadeh-Sharvit, Rachel Levy-Shiff, Katherine D Arnow and James D Lock

The early cognitive development of the toddlers of mothers with eating disorders is compromised. This exploratory study examined the role that the psychological and support resources of mothers with eating disorders may play in the developmental delay found in their toddlers. Twenty-nine mothers with prenatal eating disorders and their toddlers (18-24 months old) were case-control matched with no eating psychopathology mother-child dyads. Measures included maternal stress and organization of the home environment, spousal and extended social support, as well as a developmental assessment of the children. Results indicated that mothers with eating disorders history had higher parenting-related stress and poorer adaptation of the home setting to match the child’s developmental needs. Extended social support was associated with improved child outcomes only in the case of low maternal stress, while spousal support was not associated with child outcomes regardless of maternal stress levels. These preliminary findings suggest that poorer maternal functioning and spousal support in mothers with eating disorders are linked with no adaptive neurodevelopmental trajectories in their young children. Future preventive intervention programs should focus on improving maternal, spousal and child functioning in these patients.