Maternal controlling parenting and youth-perceived mother-child attachment mediate the association between maternal adverse childhood experiences and adolescent behavioral difficulties

This study indicates that both maternal controlling parenting and youth-perceived mother-child attachment are mechanisms mediating the effect of maternal ACEs on adolescent internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Understanding the interactive impact of both maternal and child factors may improve policy and programming to ameliorate intergenerational consequences of maternal ACEs on youth mental health.