Objectives: This study aimed to understand if maternal interpersonal violence-related posttraumatic stress disorder (IPV-PTSD) is associated with delayed language development among very
young children (“toddlers”).
Methods: Data were collected from 61 mothers and toddlers (ages 12–42 months, mean
age = 25.6 months SD = 8.70). Child expressive and receptive language development was assessed by the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) communication subscale (ASQCS) that
measures language acquisition. Observed maternal caregiving behavior was coded from videos of
10-min free-play interactions via the CARE-Index. Correlations, Mann-Whitney tests, and multiple linear regression were performed.
Results: There was no significant association between maternal IPV-PTSD severity and the
ASQCS.
Maternal IPV-PTSD severity was associated with continuous maternal behavior variables (i.e.
sensitive and controlling behavior on the CARE-Index) across the entire sample and regardless of
child gender. Maternal sensitivity was positively and significantly associated with the ASQCS.
Controlling behavior was negatively and significantly associated with the ASQCS.
Conclusions: Results are consistent with the literature that while maternal IPV-PTSD severity is
not associated with child language delays, the quality of maternal interactive behavior is associated both with child language development and with maternal IPV-PTSD severity. Further
study is needed to understand if the level of child language development contributes to intergenerational risk or resilience for relational violence and/or victimization.