Internal State Language in the Context of Maltreatment and Maternal Depression: Predictors and Pathways Related to the Development of Child Psychopathology

Child maltreatment is associated with an increased risk for several negative outcomes throughout development. Mothers who perpetrate maltreatment are also more likely to experience symptoms of depression. The experience of maltreatment and exposure to maternal depressive symptoms are associated with disruptions in the development of children’s self-concept and the use of fewer references to internal states during conversations. The current study sought to assess how maltreatment and maternal depression affect the use of internal state language (ISL) during reminiscing discussions between mothers and children and how this may affect later child internalizing symptoms. The sample consisted of 237 mothers and their three- to six-year-old children, two-thirds of whom had experienced maltreatment with the mother being named a perpetrator. Findings indicated that higher maternal depressive symptoms were linked to less maternal use of ISL. Further, mothers’ use of ISL mediated associations between maternal depression and child ISL use. There was not a significant association between maltreatment status and maternal ISL use, nor a significant indirect effect when considering child ISL use. Further, child ISL use was not significantly associated with child internalizing symptoms. Exploratory analyses suggested that mother and child use of cognition/perception ISL terms may be driving the effects between maternal depressive symptoms (and maltreatment) and ISL use.