Longitudinal suicidal ideation across 18-months postpartum in mothers with childhood maltreatment histories

Objective: The current study extends our understanding of postpartum suicidal ideation (SI) in the context of childhood maltreatment (CM). The study longitudinally examines the prevalence and severity of maternal SI. We further examined risk and protective factors' associations with postpartum SI.

Methods: SI was assessed at 4, 6, 12, 15, and 18-months postpartum in a non-clinical sample of mothers with CM histories (N=116). For the first aim, frequency, longitudinal percentage counts, and ANOVAs were conducted. For the second aim, logistic and linear regressions were completed to examine associations between risk and protective factors and the presence and severity of SI, respectively.

Results: Endorsement of SI was highest at 4-months (37%) and remained at approximately 25% for the duration of the study. While the severity of CM was not significant, our sample of women with CM histories evidenced markedly higher rates of SI than other postpartum investigations. Resilience, marital status, maltreatment-related shame, and family support were associated with suicidal ideation or severity at some assessments; however, these relationships were highly variable over time.

Limitations: of this study include the use of self-report measures and generalizability to mothers without CM histories.

Conclusion: Mothers with histories of CM are at risk for postpartum SI. Our findings elucidate the importance of understanding the interplay and variability of risk and protective factors during postpartum. These results aid clinicians in identifying women at risk for suicidal ideation during postpartum.