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Impacts of the Attachment and Child Health (ATTACH TM ) Parenting Program on Mothers and Their Children at Risk of Maltreatment: Phase 2 Results

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  • Nicole Letourneau

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

  • Lubna Anis

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

  • Jason Novick

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

  • Carrie Pohl

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

Abstract

Early adversity (e.g., family violence, parental depression, low income) places children at risk for maltreatment and negatively impacts developmental outcomes. Optimal parental reflective function (RF), defined as the parent’s ability to think about and identify thoughts, feelings, and mental states in themselves and in their children, is linked to secure attachment and may protect against suboptimal outcomes. We present the results of Phase 2 randomized control trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies (QES) of the Attachment and Child Health (ATTACH TM ) parental RF intervention for families with children at risk for maltreatment. Phase 2 parents experiencing adversity, along with their children aged 0–5 years ( n = 45), received the 10–12-week ATTACH TM intervention. Building on completed Phase 1 pilot data, Phase 2 examined outcomes of long-standing interest, including parental RF and child development, as well as new outcomes, including parental perceived social support and executive function, and children’s behavior, sleep, and executive function. RCTs and QES revealed significant improvements in parents’ RF, perception of social support, and executive function, children’s development (i.e., communication, problem-solving, personal–social, and fine motor skills), and a decrease in children’s sleep and behavioral problems (i.e., anxiety/depression, attention problems, aggressive behavior, and externalizing problems), post-intervention. ATTACH™ positively impacts parental RF to prevent negative impacts on children at risk of maltreatment.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:4:p:3078-:d:1063579
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Simone Charpentier Mora & Chiara Bastianoni & Nina Koren-Karie & Donatella Cavanna & Marta Tironi & Fabiola Bizzi, 2022. "Parental Mentalizing during Middle Childhood: How Is the Adoption of a Reflective Stance Associated with Child’s Psychological Outcomes?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-18, May.
    2. Negriff, Sonya, 2020. "ACEs are not equal: Examining the relative impact of household dysfunction versus childhood maltreatment on mental health in adolescence," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    3. 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.
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