The aim of this longitudinal study was to examine the association of infant fussing and crying with self-regulation in toddlerhood and the preschool years, as well as the moderating role of maternal sensitivity therein. When children (n = 149, 53.69% boys) were 6 months old, parents reported on their fussing and crying using a cry diary, and maternal sensitivity was coded during a novel toy procedure. Children participated in various tasks to assess self-regulation in toddlerhood (18 months) and the preschool years (4.5 years). Results indicated that the relation between infant fussing and preschool self-regulation took the shape of an inverted U, but only for children of highly sensitive mothers. For infants of less sensitive mothers, fussing was not related to later self-regulation. Crying was unrelated to preschool self-regulation. Neither fussing, crying, nor maternal sensitivity predicted self-regulation in toddlerhood. The findings support the optimal arousal theory, by demonstrating that for infants of highly sensitive mothers, moderate amounts of low intensity negative reactivity are associated with enhanced self-regulation in the preschool years.
There are few family-based interventions for children and caregivers affected by trauma, and even fewer for those impacted by multiple traumas and chronic stress. Using a within-subjects design, the authors assessed the impact of a manualized multifamily group intervention that delivers a trauma-focused, skills-based treatment to families living in traumatic contexts. Since publication of the Strengthening Family Coping Resources (SFCR) feasibility trial (Kiser et al., 2010), 2 models of SFCR have been implemented nationally by a range of community agencies. A total of 13 sites contributed data to the current study sample, which included 103 families with a child age 6 to 17 years exposed to multiple traumas (51.4% female; M age ϭ 10.4 years). A total of 13 sites contributed data to the current study. Participants included 185 families with a child exposed to multiple traumas; pre-post data were submitted on 103 children age 6 to 17 years (56.7% female; M age ϭ 10.7 years). Participants completed preassessments within 2 weeks of the first session, and follow-up assessment was completed within 1 month of the final session. As predicted, results of linear mixedmodel analyses indicated child posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms decrease post SFCR (as reported by both caregivers and children). Caregivers also reported significant reductions in their child's behavior problems, healthier family functioning, and decreased parenting stress following completion of SFCR. Overall, results suggest that SFCR is a promising intervention for reducing trauma-related symptoms in children and improving family functioning when delivered in multiple real-world settings.
Although responsibility for the care, nurturance, and protection of children can sometimes be viewed as an additional stress in the lives of at-risk women, this article describes the ways in which children act as protective factors in support of Afghan women's resilience. The qualitative data presented come from 110 interviews collected in Pakistan and Afghanistan between December 2001 and July 2002 with Afghan women, children, and men associated with the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA). RAWA, founded in 1977, is an Afghan women's underground resistance organization that promotes resilience through humanitarian and political activities. An iterative coding framework was developed to identify and explore processes of resilience and domain specific stressors (risks) and resources (protective factors). This article discusses the role of children as protective factors for women and RAWA. Although this article explores a unique setting and context, the authors argue that attention to children's role as protective factors may provide an important, strengths-based approach and a useful mechanism to bolster women's resilience in an array of other contexts and conflicts.
Aims To investigate whether cigarette smoking and/or depression contribute to neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) severity. Design Cohort study analyzing data from a randomized, controlled trial of methadone versus buprenorphine. Setting Seven study sites that randomized patients to study conditions and provided comprehensive addiction treatment to pregnant patients. Participants 119 of 131 opioid-dependent pregnant patients who completed the MOTHER study. Measurements Smoking data and depression status were obtained from the Addiction Severity Index and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, respectively. Neonatal outcomes (birth weight, preterm delivery and NAS pharmacologic treatment) were collected from the medical charts. Study site was a fixed-effect factor in all analyses. Findings Cigarette smoking was reported by 94% of participants and depression identified in 35%. Smoking was associated with low birth weight, preterm delivery, and NAS pharmacologic treatment in both depressed and non-depressed participants. The association between smoking and NAS treatment differed significantly between depressed and non-depressed participants. Among non-depressed participants, adjusting for site and illicit drug use, each additional average cigarette per day (CPD) increased the odds of NAS treatment by 12% [95%CI: (1.02-1.23), p=0.02]. Among depressed participants, each additional average CPD did not statistically increase the odds of NAS treatment [OR: 0.94, 95% CI: (0.84-1.04), p=0.23]. Conclusions These results are consistent with the hypothesis that NAS expression is influenced by many factors. The relationship between CPD and NAS pharmacologic treatment is attenuated among depressed women in this study for reasons currently unknown. Further investigations are needed to clarify the complex relationships among maternal smoking, depression, and NAS.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.