Infant Mental Health Journal最新文献

Parental mentalization has been identified as a key mechanism in attachment transmission (Sharp & Fonagy, 2008; Van IJzendoorn & Bakermans-Kranenburg, 2019). With a community sample of 63 mothers of infants, this study examined associations between adult attachment state of mind (using the Adult Attachment Interview), parental mental health and parental mentalizing: both self-reported parental reflective functioning (PRFQ; Luyten et al., 2017) and observed and representational mind-mindedness (Meins & Fernyhough, 2015). Results revealed an association between parent attachment and psychological distress and an association between parent attachment and mentalizing. Support for psychological distress moderating the relationship between attachment and mentalizing was also found for parents’ non-attuned mind-mindedness, and the PRFQ measures of interest and curiosity. These findings align with existing research underscoring the role of parental mentalizing in the transmission of attachment and highlight the potential vulnerability of parental mentalization capacities to fluctuations in mental health, even among individuals with autonomous attachment representations.

Infant Mental Health and Early Childhood (IECMH) is a field of study of infants and the developing relationship and the optimal development between infants and their caregivers. Phenomenological research within the well-being of infants and caregivers has core importance in the comprehension of the subjectivity of the infant and the attachment relationship. We aimed to explore and analyze, in a mapping review, how phenomenology has been used in IECMH research. The mapping review is a rigorous and systematic approach to identify and categorize the quantity of available evidence on a particular topic. We conducted a wide systematic review, including original articles globally and without a time limit. A total of 780 records were identified, and 167 original studies were analyzed inductively with content analysis. The studies present global variation and diverse phenomenological traditions. We identified that mothers and infants are mostly studied, whereas the father and extended family perspectives have remained scarce. Many studies lacked clear grounding in phenomenological philosophy or showed inconsistencies between method and phenomenological principles, underscoring the need for philosophically and methodologically coherent research. Phenomenological insights may deepen and enrich the relationships between professionals, caregivers, and infants.

Children in unstable homes face frequent changes and distractions from unpredictable events, leading to lower emotional regulation and reduced attentional regulation. This study investigated the role of early bedtime routines in the relationship between household instability and self-regulation among Early Head Start children. Specifically, we investigated whether early bedtime routines function as a mediating mechanism or a moderating factor in the association between early household instability and children's self-regulation. The analytic sample included 1760 primarily low-income, ethnic minority families in the U.S. Using two separate longitudinal models, we tested the mediation effect using path analysis and found that early bedtime routine during toddlerhood (14–36 months) significantly mediated the relationship between household instability and both emotional and attentional regulation at 36 months. However, the moderation analysis did not yield significant evidence supporting the buffering role of bedtime routines. This study provides empirical evidence that parents’ engagement in establishing consistent early bedtime routines plays a significant mediating role in supporting the development of children's emotional and attentional regulation in the context of household instability.

Mother–infant bonding is crucial for child development. Prenatal mental health and subjective birth experience are both predictors of postpartum bonding. The purpose of this study was to investigate how prenatal depression, anxiety, and stress were related to bonding and whether these relationships were mediated by birth experience. This prospective cohort study included a diverse sample of 108 pregnant women (38% non-Hispanic White, 37% Black, 25% another race/ethnicity) in the Northeastern United States, approximately half of whom had a mental health condition. Participants completed assessments during pregnancy and 5–7 weeks postpartum, including self-report measures of depression, generalized anxiety, perceived stress, birth experience, and postpartum bonding. Mediation analyses were conducted to explore the relationships between prenatal mental health symptoms, birth experience, and postpartum bonding. Higher levels of prenatal stress and depression symptoms predicted poorer postpartum bonding. These relationships were partially mediated by subjective birth experience. Generalized anxiety symptoms during pregnancy were not related to bonding. Results highlight the key role of the birth experience for postpartum bonding. Mental health symptoms early in pregnancy may impact subjective birth experience and postpartum bonding, suggesting that early interventions have the potential to improve maternal well-being and mother–infant bonding.

Young children who receive early intervention (EI) services are at increased likelihood of having experienced trauma, as trauma is most common in the birth-to-three age range, especially for children with disabilities. Little is known about EI services for trauma-impacted children and families. Previous research suggested that EI providers are unprepared to support trauma. Thus, we conducted qualitative interviews with 14 EI providers in one US state to understand the barriers and needs related to trauma-informed care (TIC). We organized our findings so that each theme is nested in a system from social ecological theory. The six themes included macrosystem (the system is unequipped, lack of role clarity), exosystem (providers need specific training), mesosystem (gatekeeping, family-provider dynamics), and microsystem (EI providers’ well-being and comfort). Implications include the need for a top-down approach to TIC in EI and clarification of the roles of various EI disciplines in implementing TIC.

Recognizing the foundational role of infant–parent relationships in supporting healthy development, this study explored the infant's lived experience of bonding and connection with their parents in the context of an Australian neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Drawing on a 360° phenomenological approach, data were gathered from a diverse set of sources including observational fieldnotes, bedside diaries, newborn behavioral observation sessions, and semi-structured interviews. Participants included seven infants, thirteen parents, and twenty-four healthcare providers, purposively sampled from a quaternary NICU. Thematic analysis revealed three interrelated themes that shaped the infant's relational world: layered separation, highlighting the multiple and compounding barriers to closeness; missed opportunities for connection, reflecting the subtle and often unintentional ways bonding was impeded; and resilience-in-relationship, capturing how infants and families adapt within this challenging relational landscape. The findings center the infant's voice and perspective, illuminating how institutional practices and interpersonal dynamics either hinder or support the formation of secure attachments. Ultimately, the study highlights the necessity of fostering a NICU environment that prioritizes the infant–parent relationship, creating space to enable emotional connection and containment, even within the complexities of critical care.

This study examines the association between the level of maternal behavioral control and toddlers’ attachment patterns, focusing on toddlers aged 12–24 months (M = 17.18 months, SD = 3.31). The sample consisted of 60 Egyptian mother-child dyads. Maternal behavioral control—conceptualized within the framework of Interpersonal acceptance-rejection theory (IPARTheory)—was measured using the behavioral control scale, while toddlers’ attachment patterns were assessed using Mary Ainsworth's Strange Situation Procedure (SSP). Results revealed significant differences in maternal behavioral control levels in toddlers with secure and insecure attachment patterns. Specifically, higher levels of maternal behavioral control were associated with insecure-resistant attachment patterns, whereas lower levels of behavioral control were associated with secure attachment patterns. No significant difference emerged between maternal behavioral control levels in toddlers with secure and avoidant attachment patterns. The findings speak to the effects of behavioral control on toddlers’ perceptions of danger and, thus, their internal working models of the world and resulting attachment patterns. Study limitations and future directions of research are discussed.

This study examines the relationship between infant sleep and parenting style, family climate, parenting stress, and soothing methods among Finnish families. Mothers completed questionnaires before birth and when their infants were 3 and 8 months old. Initially, 1667 mothers participated, with follow-up responses from 1421 mothers and 1427 infants at 3 months and 1298 mothers and 1302 infants at 8 months. A cross-sectional data analysis was conducted using linear regression to examine the four sleep-related outcome variables, and parallel multivariable regression models were built using backward stepwise selection. Predictors were selected based on statistical significance in the pre-screening regression analyses. Models controlled for maternal age at birth, infant gender, older siblings, breastfeeding, and maternal education. The findings indicate that higher parenting stress, and active and passive physical soothing styles are associated with more problematic sleep. A higher control showed a weak association with higher sleep problem severity scores, whereas a more active recreationally oriented family climate was weakly associated with shorter sleep onset latency. This study contributes to the current body of research on children's sleeping problems and the family environment, and it would be beneficial for social and healthcare services to take these findings into account.

Lack of parental sensitivity and inappropriate disciplining behaviors are known risk factors for child externalizing behavior. The Video-feedback Intervention to promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline (VIPP-SD) is an evidence-based parenting program targeting families with children aged 1–6 years. This study explores experiences of intervention-specific facilitators and barriers to change in VIPP-SD among parents of preschool-aged children with externalizing behaviors. Hereby, the study aims to enhance our understanding of elements supporting change and experienced relevance, and possibilities for future adaptations. Individual qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine mothers and two fathers living in Denmark following participation in VIPP-SD delivered by trained childcare professionals. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. The findings demonstrate how the video feedback and the educational content were experienced as key facilitators of change, alongside the intervener's professional and relational competencies. An experienced barrier to change was an absence of recordings of challenging situations and a lack of sufficient guidance in this regard. Further it was experienced negatively that both parents were not equally involved in the intervention. These findings can guide future adaptations of VIPP-SD, clinicians delivering VIPP-SD as well as the development of parenting interventions aimed at supporting similar groups.

Maternal perinatal stress is a well-documented risk factor for adverse child outcomes, but limited evidence is available from Latin America. This study investigated associations between maternal psychosocial stress during pregnancy and postpartum and infant socioaffective development at 3 months of age in Argentina. The sample included 198 mother–infant dyads recruited from two public health centers. Mothers completed standardized assessments of anxiety, depression, perceived stress, and pregnancy-specific distress during the second and third trimesters and 3 months postpartum. Infant socioemotional development and temperament were assessed at 3 months using parent-report instruments. Latent profile analysis identified three socioaffective profiles (Reactive, Moderate, Adapted). Multinomial logistic regressions showed that maternal stress—particularly during the second trimester—predicted profile membership. Higher prenatal and cumulative stress levels increased the odds of classification into the Reactive profile and decreased the likelihood of classification into the Adapted profile. These findings underscore the developmental impact of maternal stress and highlight the importance of early detection and intervention in prenatal care, especially in low- and middle-income contexts.