Preventing early harsh parenting and toddler behavior problems: The role of neighborhood collective efficacy among low-income Latine families.

Harsh parenting behaviors are alarmingly prevalent during infancy and toddlerhood. From an ecological perspective, predicting and preventing harsh parenting requires probing not only micro- and exosystem-level processes but also the interactions among them. In the current longitudinal study, we examined associations among maternal depressive symptoms, harsh parenting, and neighborhood collective efficacy in 142 low-income Latina mothers and their infants (M = 14.

Taking perspective on attachment theory and research: nine fundamental questions.

Since its inception more than 50 years ago, attachment theory has become one of the most influential viewpoints in the behavioral sciences. What have we learned during this period about its fundamental questions? In this paper, we summarize the conclusions of an inquiry into this question involving more than 75 researchers. Each responded to one of nine "fundamental questions" in attachment theory.

Maternal Psychological Risk Moderates the Impacts of Attachment-Based Intervention on Mother-Toddler Mutuality and Toddler Behavior Problems: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Although there is robust evidence of the benefits of attachment-based parenting interventions, limited research has examined their impact on dyadic mutuality and toddler behavior problems. Given the central question in prevention research of what works for whom, and the documented relation of maternal psychological risk to parenting and intervention response, it is important to consider the moderating role of maternal psychological risk in the efficacy of attachment-based interventions. The current study extends prior research on a randomized controlled trial of Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC) by examining its impact on dyadic mutuality and the moderating role of maternal psychological risk in ABC's impact on dyadic mutuality and toddler behavior problems.

The value added of attachment theory, research, and intervention for US child care and early childhood education: Reflecting and carrying forward the legacy of Edward Zigler.

Edward Zigler pioneered and insisted upon the integration of science, practice, and policy development to support vulnerable children and families, reduce poverty, and improve US wellbeing, writ large. His far-reaching scholarship in turn critically shaped developmental science and US policy in multiple areas. This review reflects upon Zigler's influence on US child care, Head Start, Early Head Start, and prekindergarten programs.

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

Maternal sensitivity to infant distress is a key predictor of infant attachment security and social-emotional development. Preventive interventions that support mothers' sensitive responses to infant distress are crucial, as are rigorous evaluations that test such interventions are effective. The current randomized controlled trial tested main and moderated effects of an attachment-based intervention on mothers' sensitivity to their infants' distress in 161 low-income, predominantly Latino mother-infant dyads.

Supporting Infant Emotion Regulation Through Attachment-Based Intervention: a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Infant emotion regulation has long-term implications for human development, highlighting the need for preventive interventions that support emotion regulation early in life. Such interventions may be especially important for infants higher in emotional reactivity who need to regulate their emotions more frequently and intensely than infants lower in emotional reactivity. The current randomized trial examined main and moderated effects of an attachment-based intervention on (a) infants' use of mother-oriented and self-soothing emotion regulation strategies and (b) infant emotion dysregulation in 186 low-income, predominantly Latino infants.

Intergenerational Continuity in Child Maltreatment: Explicating Underlying Mechanisms.

The current study examined direct and indirect effects of a mother's history of childhood physical and sexual abuse on her child's officially reported victimization. This prospective, longitudinal study followed a community-based sample of 499 mothers and their children. Mothers (35% White/non-Latina, 34% Black/non-Latina, 23% Latina, and 7% other) were recruited and interviewed during pregnancy, and child protective services records were reviewed for the presence of the participants' target child between birth and age 3.

Maternal attachment style, sensitivity, and infant obesity risk in low-income, Latino families.

Disparities in childhood obesity highlight the need for research to identify its early predictors in high-risk populations, such as low-income, Latino families. In the current study, the first of its kind in a low-income Latino sample ( = 55;  = 12.74 months,  = 3.

Improving infants' stress-induced cortisol regulation through attachment-based intervention: A randomized controlled trial.

Attachment-based parenting interventions have shown positive effects on early cortisol regulation, a key biomarker. Evaluations to date have focused on diurnal cortisol production in high-risk infants. It is important to understand whether attachment-based intervention may also improve stress-induced cortisol production in typically developing infants.

Improving early head start's impacts on parenting through attachment-based intervention: A randomized controlled trial.

This randomized controlled trial tested an enhanced model of Early Head Start (EHS) that combined home-based EHS with Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC; Dozier & Bernard, 2017), a brief, attachment-based intervention. The trial included 208 low-income mothers (87% Latina) and their 6- to 18-month-old infants. Control participants received home-based EHS plus 10 weekly books.

Can typical US home visits affect infant attachment? Preliminary findings from a randomized trial of Healthy Families Durham.

US government-funded early home visiting services are expanding significantly. The most widely implemented home visiting models target at-risk new mothers and their infants. Such home visiting programs typically aim to support infant-parent relationships; yet, such programs' effects on infant attachment quality per se are as yet untested.

IMPLEMENTING AN ATTACHMENT-BASED PARENTING INTERVENTION WITHIN HOME-BASED EARLY HEAD START: HOME-VISITORS' PERCEPTIONS AND EXPERIENCES.

Implementation of evidence-based interventions in "real-world" settings is enhanced when front-line staff view the intervention as acceptable, appropriate, and feasible. This qualitative study addresses Early Head Start (EHS) home visitors' perceptions and experiences of an evidence-based parenting intervention, the Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up program (M. Dozier, O.

Maternal responsivity to infants in the "High Chair" assessment: Longitudinal relations with toddler outcomes in a diverse, low-income sample.

Infant-parent interactions occur across many situations, yet most home-based assessments of parenting behaviors are conducted under conditions of low stress, such as free play. In this study, low-income mothers from the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project were observed at home interacting with their 14-month-olds in the mildly stressful "High Chair" assessment (n=1718 dyads). This methodological study tested whether High Chair maternal responsiveness and detachment predicted later toddler cognitive and emotion outcomes, over and above equivalent maternal predictors during free play.

FIRST-GENERATION LATINA MOTHERS' EXPERIENCES OF SUPPLEMENTING HOME-BASED EARLY HEAD START WITH THE ATTACHMENT AND BIOBEHAVIORAL CATCH-UP PROGRAM.

This qualitative pilot study examined first-generation Latina mothers' experiences of supplementing home-based Early Head Start (EHS) services with the evidence-based Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC; M. Dozier, O. Lindheim, & J.

Promoting supportive parenting in new mothers with substance-use problems: a pilot randomized trial of residential treatment plus an attachment-based parenting program.

This pilot randomized trial tested the feasibility and efficacy of supplementing residential substance-abuse treatment for new mothers with a brief, yet rigorous, attachment-based parenting program. Twenty-one predominantly (86%) White mothers and their infants living together in residential substance-abuse treatment were randomly assigned to the program (n = 11) or control (n = 10) group. Program mothers received 10 home-based sessions of Dozier's Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC) intervention.

Examining pregnant women's hostile attributions about infants as a predictor of offspring maltreatment.

Importance: Child maltreatment is a serious public health problem that disproportionately affects infants and toddlers. In the interest of informing prevention and intervention efforts, this study examined pregnant women's attributions about infants as a risk factor for child maltreatment and harsh parenting during their children's first and second years. We also provide specific methods for practitioners to assess hostile attributions.

Organizational influences on data use among child welfare workers.

This study addresses organizational factors associated with child welfare workers' data use in their day-to-day work. Survey data from 237 respondents were analyzed using logistic regression. Familiarity with data and supervisor support were significant predictors of child welfare workers' data use.

Enhancing the Transition to Kindergarten: A Randomized Trial to Test the Efficacy of the "Stars" Summer Kindergarten Orientation Program.

This randomized trial tested the efficacy of an intensive, four-week summer program designed to enhance low-income children's transition to kindergarten (n's = 60 program children, 40 controls). Administered in four public schools, the program focused on social competence, pre-literacy and pre-numeracy skills, school routines, and parental involvement. Hierarchical linear modeling indicated that the program significantly improved teachers' ratings of (a) the transition to the social aspect of kindergarten for girls (but not boys); and (b) the transition to kindergarten routines for the subgroup of children who had the same teacher for kindergarten as for the summer program.

Intergenerational continuity in child maltreatment: mediating mechanisms and implications for prevention.

In the interest of improving child maltreatment prevention, this prospective, longitudinal, community-based study of 499 mothers and their infants examined (a) direct associations between mothers' experiences of childhood maltreatment and their offspring's maltreatment, and (b) mothers' mental health problems, social isolation, and social information processing patterns (hostile attributions and aggressive response biases) as mediators of these associations. Mothers' childhood physical abuse--but not neglect--directly predicted offspring victimization. This association was mediated by mothers' social isolation and aggressive response biases.

Testing maternal depression and attachment style as moderators of Early Head Start's effects on parenting.

This study examined maternal depression, attachment avoidance, and attachment anxiety as moderators of Early Head Start's effects on four parenting outcomes assessed at age three. Participants (N = 947) were drawn from six sites of the Early Head Start National Research and Evaluation Project, a multi-site randomized trial. Findings suggest more positive program effects for mothers with less initial attachment avoidance or attachment anxiety.

Early mother-child separation, parenting, and child well-being in Early Head Start families.

Drawing on theories of attachment and family instability, this study examined associations between early mother-child separation and subsequent maternal parenting behaviors and children's outcomes in a sample of 2080 families who participated in the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project, the vast majority of whom were poor. Multiple regression models revealed that, controlling for baseline family and maternal characteristics and indicators of family instability, the occurrence of a mother-child separation of a week or longer within the first two years of life was related to higher levels of child negativity (at age three) and aggression (at ages three and five). The effect of separation on child aggression at age five was mediated by aggression at age three, suggesting that the effects of separation on children's aggressive behavior are early and persistent.

Preventing early child maltreatment: implications from a longitudinal study of maternal abuse history, substance use problems, and offspring victimization.

In the interest of improving child maltreatment prevention science, this longitudinal, community based study of 499 mothers and their infants tested the hypothesis that mothers' childhood history of maltreatment would predict maternal substance use problems, which in turn would predict offspring victimization. Mothers (35% White/non-Latina, 34% Black/non-Latina, 23% Latina, 7% other) were recruited and interviewed during pregnancy, and child protective services records were reviewed for the presence of the participants' target infants between birth and age 26 months. Mediating pathways were examined through structural equation modeling and tested using the products of the coefficients approach.

Correlates and consequences of spanking and verbal punishment for low-income white, african american, and mexican american toddlers.

This study examined the prevalence, predictors, and outcomes of spanking and verbal punishment in 2,573 low-income White, African American, and Mexican American toddlers at ages 1, 2, and 3. Both spanking and verbal punishment varied by maternal race/ethnicity. Child fussiness at age 1 predicted spanking and verbal punishment at all 3 ages.