ASSESSING ANGELS IN THE NURSERY: A PILOT STUDY OF CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF BENEVOLENT CAREGIVING AS PROTECTIVE INFLUENCES

ABSTRACT This pilot study provides the first empirical test of the concept of “Angels in the Nursery” by examining whether childhood memories of benevolent caregiving experiences protect against heightened levels of psychopathology in high‐risk mothers. The study hypothesized that (a) elaborated childhood memories of feeling loved by a caregiver (“angel memories”) would moderate adulthood posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in mothers with childhood maltreatment histories, and (b) spontaneous traumatic intrusions (“ghost memories”) would mediate childhood maltreatment and adulthood PTSD symptoms. Participants were 54 mothers (M = 32.79 years, SD = 8.91; 59.2% African American, 13.0% Caucasian, 5.6% Latina, 22.2% biracial/multiracial) who completed standardized assessments of childhood maltreatment and adulthood PTSD symptoms, and a novel instrument, the Angels in the Nursery Interview (“Angels Interview,” Van Horn, Lieberman, & Harris, 2008). Results showed that angel memories significantly moderated childhood maltreatment and adulthood PTSD symptoms, consistent with a protective effect. Higher levels of ghost memories during the Angels Interview were significantly associated with more extensive childhood maltreatment, but did not mediate maltreatment and PTSD symptoms. Findings indicate that the Angels Interview can identify pathogenic intrusions rooted in childhood maltreatment and protective factors to promote maternal mental health and buffer the intergenerational transmission of trauma. RESUMEN Este estudio piloto provee la primera prueba empírica del concepto “Ángeles en la Guardería” al examinar si los recuerdos de niñez de experiencias de cuidado benevolentes protegen contra los elevados niveles de sicopatología en madres de alto riesgo. La hipótesis del estudio es que a) recuerdos elaborados de la niñez de sentirse amado por alguien que nos cuida (“recuerdos del ángel”) moderaría los síntomas del trastorno de estrés postraumático en el adulto (PTSD) en madres con un historial de maltrato en la niñez, y b) las espontáneas intrusiones traumáticas (“recuerdos del fantasma”) mediarían el maltrato en la niñez y los síntomas de PTSD en la edad adulta. Las participantes fueron 54 madres (M = 32.79 años, SD = 8.91; 59.2% afroamericanas, 13.0% blancas, 5.6% latinas, 22.2% de dos razas o multirraciales) quienes completaron medidas estandarizadas sobre maltrato en la niñez y síntomas de PTSD en la edad adulta, y un novedoso instrumento, la Entrevis