Testing the limits: Extending attachment-based intervention effects to infant cognitive outcome and parental stress

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Karine Dubois-Comtois1, Chantal Cyr2, George M Tarabulsy3

  • 1Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières.

Development and Psychopathology
|April 13, 2017
PubMed

Insights

This study found that a parent-child attachment intervention improved maternal sensitivity and child development in at-risk infants. Parental stress levels decreased for all, but the intervention

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Neglected infants and toddlers face significant developmental risks.
  • Early parent-child relationships are crucial for child development.
  • Attachment-based interventions aim to improve these early relationships.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of a parent-child attachment-based video-feedback intervention.
  • To assess the intervention's impact on parental sensitivity, parental stress, and child development.
  • To explore the intervention's influence on the subjective experience of parenting.

Main Methods:

  • Randomized clinical trial with 41 infants and toddlers (21 intervention, 20 control).
  • An 8-week parent-child attachment-based video-feedback intervention was administered.
  • Measures included parental sensitivity, parental stress (self-report), and child mental/psychomotor development.

Main Results:

  • The intervention group showed higher maternal sensitivity scores post-intervention.
  • Child mental and psychomotor development scores were significantly higher in the intervention group.
  • Parental stress self-reports decreased in both groups, with no significant difference between them when controlling for defensive responding.

Conclusions:

  • Attachment-based video-feedback intervention shows promise in enhancing parental sensitivity and child development for at-risk populations.
  • The intervention's effect on parental stress requires further investigation.
  • Early attachment relationships are vital for developmental outcomes, highlighting the potential of targeted interventions.

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