Early life trauma: An exploratory study of effects on OXTR and NR3C1 gene expression and nurturing self-efficacy in mothers of infants.

•OXTR mRNA was increased in mothers of infants vs. no-infant controls.•Mother who experienced early life trauma had lower OXTR mRNA than mothers with no early trauma and lower NR3C1 mRNA than no-infant controls.•Mothers with depression had lower NR3C1 mRNA than non-depressed mothers.•Mothers who experienced early life trauma evaluated their support networks more negatively than mothers without early life trauma.