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Effect of Attachment and Child Health (ATTACH TM ) Parenting Program on Parent-Infant Attachment, Parental Reflective Function, and Parental Depression

Author

Listed:
  • Lubna Anis

    (Owerko Centre for Children’s Neurodevelopment and Mental Health, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada)

  • Kharah Ross

    (Owerko Centre for Children’s Neurodevelopment and Mental Health, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
    Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Athabasca University, Athabasca, AB T9S 3A3, Canada)

  • Henry Ntanda

    (Owerko Centre for Children’s Neurodevelopment and Mental Health, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada)

  • Martha Hart

    (Owerko Centre for Children’s Neurodevelopment and Mental Health, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada)

  • Nicole Letourneau

    (Owerko Centre for Children’s Neurodevelopment and Mental Health, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Departments of Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada)

Abstract

High-risk families exposed to toxic stressors such as family violence, depression, addiction, and poverty, have shown greater difficulty in parenting young children. In this study, we examined the effectiveness of ATTACH TM , a 10–12 session manualized one-on-one parental Reflective Function (RF)-based parenting program designed for high-risk families. Outcomes of parent-child attachment and parental RF were assessed via the Strange Situation Procedure (SSP) and Reflective Function Scale (RFS), respectively. The protective role of ATTACH TM on parental depression was also assessed. Data were available from caregivers and their children < 6 years of age who participated in five pilot randomized control trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies (QES; n = 40). Compared with the control group, caregivers who received the ATTACH TM -program demonstrated a greater likelihood of secure attachment with their children ( p = 0.004) and higher parental RF [self ( p = 0.004), child ( p = 0.001), overall ( p = 0.002)] in RCTs. A significant improvement in parental RF ( p = 0.000) was also observed in the QES within ATTACH TM group analysis. As attachment security increased, receiving the ATTACH TM program may be protective for depressed caregivers. Results demonstrated the promise of ATTACH TM for high-risk parents and their young children.

Suggested Citation

  • Lubna Anis & Kharah Ross & Henry Ntanda & Martha Hart & Nicole Letourneau, 2022. "Effect of Attachment and Child Health (ATTACH TM ) Parenting Program on Parent-Infant Attachment, Parental Reflective Function, and Parental Depression," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-18, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:14:p:8425-:d:859512
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    Cited by:

    1. Arvind Ponnapalli & Tarita Fisher & Karen M. T. Turner, 2023. "Exploring Indigenous Community Conceptions of Parent Wellbeing: A Qualitative Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-21, February.
    2. Nicole Letourneau & Lubna Anis & Jason Novick & Carrie Pohl & Henry Ntanda & Martha Hart, 2023. "Impacts of the Attachment and Child Health (ATTACH TM ) Parenting Program on Mothers and Their Children at Risk of Maltreatment: Phase 2 Results," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-20, February.

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