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Enhancing executive functioning among toddlers in foster care with an attachment-based intervention

Teresa Lind1, K Lee Raby2, E B Caron1

  • 1University of Delaware.

Development and Psychopathology
|April 13, 2017
PubMed

Insights

The Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up for Toddlers (ABC-T) intervention improved executive functioning in foster care children. This attachment-based approach reduced attention problems and enhanced cognitive flexibility in toddlers.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Intervention Science

Background:

  • Children in foster care face adversity, increasing risks for executive functioning deficits.
  • Early caregiving instability negatively impacts self-regulatory development in young children.
  • Executive functioning is crucial for academic and social-emotional success.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of the Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up for Toddlers (ABC-T) intervention.
  • To assess the impact of ABC-T on executive functioning in toddlers in foster care.
  • To compare outcomes between foster children receiving ABC-T, a control intervention, and low-risk children.

Main Methods:

  • 173 parent-toddler dyads were assigned to ABC-T, a control intervention, or a low-risk group.
  • The ABC-T intervention focused on promoting responsive parenting to enhance child self-regulation.
  • Executive functioning was assessed at age 48 months using parent-report (Child Behavior Checklist) and a cognitive task (Dimensional Change Card Sort).

Main Results:

  • Foster children receiving the ABC-T intervention showed fewer parent-reported attention problems.
  • Children in the ABC-T group demonstrated greater cognitive flexibility compared to the control group.
  • Outcomes for the ABC-T group were comparable to low-risk children from intact families.

Conclusions:

  • The attachment-based ABC-T intervention is effective in enhancing executive functioning in toddlers in foster care.
  • Targeted interventions can mitigate the negative effects of early adversity on child development.
  • Promoting secure attachment and responsive caregiving supports crucial cognitive skills in vulnerable populations.

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