ABSTRACT
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) increase risk for maternal depression and anxiety, with cascading effects on the entire family. This study investigated associations between ACEs and maternal mental health in a racially diverse US sample, considering individual (self-efficacy, loneliness) and contextual (parenting stress, partner support, family strength, discrimination, neighborhood safety) factors. Mothers of toddlers (N = 334; 23% Black/African-American, 18% Hispanic/Latino, 24% Asian/Pacific-Islander, 35% multiracial/other) completed self-report measures. Hierarchical regressions controlled for demographics and COVID-19-related resource worries. ACEs, loneliness, and discrimination predicted higher depression and anxiety (p < 0.001); partner support and family strength predicted lower depression (p < 0.05). Loneliness exacerbated the ACEs-depression association (p = 0.029). By innovatively applying a developmental-ecological lens to adulthood, findings highlight the importance of developmentally and culturally responsive interventions that address both past and present adversity, in order to promote maternal and family well-being and to prevent the intergenerational transmission of trauma.