Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41216728›Full record

ArticlePsychological medicine2025

Maternal PTSD symptoms and sensitivity during caregiving in early postpartum: The moderating role of resting and reactive RSA in a trauma-exposed sample.

Abigail Powers, Rebecca Lipschutz, Elizabeth McAfee, Catherine Abrams, David O'Banion, Vasiliki Michopoulos, Patricia Brennan, Jennifer Stevens

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Psychological medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Abigail PowersDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-3197-7415
Rebecca LipschutzDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-2062-5879
Elizabeth McAfeeDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Catherine AbramsDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
David O'BanionDepartment of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-0617-0492
Vasiliki MichopoulosDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-2531-923X
Patricia BrennanDepartment of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-3742-2891
Jennifer StevensDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-4674-0314

Funding

Mechanistic links between maternal PTSD and early infant emotional developmentR01HD109126 · NICHD · EMORY UNIVERSITY · PI Abigail Powers Lott · 2022 to 2026
$3.2M
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development HD109126NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD109126
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundImpaired maternal sensitivity may be a risk pathway linking maternal posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) to adverse child outcomes. Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), a psychophysiological marker of emotion dysregulation, may be a key factor in how PTSS influence maternal sensitivity. Yet, these associations remain untested in early infancy. The current study tested maternal resting RSA and RSA reactivity to caregiving as moderators of the association between maternal PTSS and maternal sensitivity in trauma-exposed mothers.

methodsSeventy-seven mother-infant dyads (maternal

resultsThe association between maternal PTSS and sensitivity was significantly moderated by resting RSA (

conclusionsA tendency toward autonomic overregulation and heightened physiological reactivity may serve as relevant factors influencing how PTSS leads to maladaptive parenting behavior in early postpartum.

Indexed as

Maternal BehaviorMother-Child RelationsMothersPostpartum PeriodRespiratory Sinus ArrhythmiaStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticAdultFemaleHumansInfantautonomic functionmaternal sensitivitypostpartumPTSDrespiratory sinus arrhythmia

Identifiers

PMID41216728
PMCPMC12775881

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.