Increasing maternal sensitivity to infant distress through attachment-based intervention: a randomized controlled...

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Maternal sensitivity is vital for infant attachment security and socio-emotional development.
• Preventive interventions supporting maternal sensitivity are essential for at-risk populations.
• Rigorous evaluation is needed to determine intervention effectiveness and for whom it works.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the main and moderated effects of the Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC) intervention on maternal sensitivity to infant distress.
• To evaluate the feasibility and value of an attachment-based intervention in a low-income, predominantly Latino sample.
• To examine if maternal attachment security, avoidance, or anxiety moderate intervention effects.

Main Methods:

• Randomized controlled trial with 161 low-income, predominantly Latino mother-infant dyads.
• Brief (10-session) Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC) intervention delivered within Early Head Start services.
• Intent-to-treat analysis with covariates to assess intervention effects on maternal sensitivity to infant distress.

Main Results:

• A significant positive main effect of the ABC intervention on maternal sensitivity to infant distress was found (d = 0.32).
• The intervention's positive effect on maternal sensitivity was not moderated by mothers' self-reported attachment security, avoidance, or anxiety.
• The findings support the value and feasibility of the ABC intervention in enhancing maternal sensitivity.

Conclusions:

• The Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC) intervention effectively increases maternal sensitivity to infant distress.
• Attachment-based interventions are a feasible and valuable approach for supporting maternal sensitivity in vulnerable populations.
• Future research should continue to explore moderators and mediators of intervention effects on maternal-infant dyads.