Maternal sensitivity and mental health: does an early childhood intervention programme have an impact?

Abstract

The dyadic early intervention POC may influence mother's mental health and indirectly impact children's well-being during critical stages of their development by strengthening their mother's sensitivity towards them.

Subjective Social Status and Psychological Distress in Mothers of Young Children

“…Caregiving deficits in children’s first years of life, such as inadequate maternal sensitivity, are strongly associated with high levels of maternal psychological distress, the effects of which can manifest themselves throughout children’s lives (Brahm et al, 2015). Maternal mental health is linked with school readiness and child behavior problems; children entering school with developmental problems are at greater risk for poor child health, poor academic achievement, and fewer future opportunities (Anhalt, Telzrow, & Brown, 2007; Kingston & Tough, 2014).…”

Primary Care Interventions for Early Childhood Development: A Systematic Review

“…The overall quality of the home environment improved among families enrolled in VIP and BB at 6 months of age. 19 HS, 24 Touchpoints, 31 and POC 32 were associated with greater parental sensitivity and higher quality parent-child interactions. Parents enrolled in VIP reported significantly reduced stress and depressive symptoms compared with controls.…”

“…Project (VIP), 17 -23 Building Blocks (BB), 19 -21, 23 Healthy Steps (HS), 24 -28 HS plus PrePare (PP), 15,29 Care For Development (CFD) Intervention, 16, 30 Touchpoints, 31 Play with Our Children (POC), 32 Parenting Intervention, 33 and Sit Down and Play (SDP). 34 VIP and HS were the 2 most intensive interventions involving additional meetings with child development specialists at each wellchild visit from birth to age 3 years.…”

Preventive Behavioral Health Programs in Primary Care: A Systematic Review

“…23 In our review, we focused on measures of parenting and child behavior. Several studies included other measures, including attendance and satisfaction with well child visits, 36,37,53,54 receipt of mental health services, 8,84 and parental sense of competence, 35,42 stress, 28,29,40 and mental health. 11,56,62,69,72 The national evaluation of Healthy Steps, for example, measured multiple outcomes because the investigators expected the program to enhance the parent's experience in primary care, increase their competence, and reduce parenting stress, while also changing parenting behavior and, in turn, child behavior.…”