3-223 - Interventions in Early Childhood: The Central Role of the Parent-Child Relationship

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Interventions in early childhood aim to support healthy parenting and early child development. We propose that the parent-child relationship is a central component of change in early childhood intervention. Using the Emotional Availability scale (Biringen, 2010) as a measure of parent-child interaction, four distinct intervention programs will be presented. These programs, which were conducted with parents in different countries (Israel and the U.S.), different populations (age, income), and in distinct settings (e.g., group vs. individual and clinic vs. home visits), will be presented. The importance of assessing the parent-child interaction as a key variable of change in research and intervention will be discussed.

Paper 1 presents the results of the Israeli Reflective Parenting Program, a 12-meeting group intervention program aimed to enhance parents’ capacity to understand mental states, which underlie positive parent-child relationship.

Paper 2 presents long-term results of a randomized control trial evaluation of a voluntary home-visit program for first-time young parents. This prevention-oriented program focused on promoting positive life-course trajectories for mothers and children.

Paper 3 presents two studies (with mothers and teachers) using a developmental-relational approach focusing on the dyad, aiming to regulate affective states of mind. Changes in parental/teachers insightfulness and dyadic emotional availability and with children’s behavior are presented.

Paper 4 proposes a novel, brief intervention model, known as the “EA Brief,” which is an intervention designed to augment other interventions or for already high-functioning parents. This intervention may help to improve parents’ participation in intervention and to decrease drop-out rates due to challenging schedules.

Sub Unit

• Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Chair

• Naama Atzaba-Poria, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Individual Presentations

• Can Change in Parental Reflective Functioning Affect the Parent-Child Relationship, Parental Behavior, and Children’s Outcome? - Presenting Author: Atara Menashe, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Non-Presenting Author: Naama Atzaba-Poria, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

• Associations Between Early Dyadic Patterns of Mother-Child Interactions and Later Interactional Quality: A Relational Perspective - Presenting Author: Rachel C. Katz, SRCD Post-doctoral State Policy Fellow, Division of Early Intervention, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Tufts University; Non-Presenting Author: Ann Easterbrooks, Tufts University

• Changes in Maternal Insightfulness and Dyadic Emotional Availability Following an Attachment-Based Intervention Program - Presenting Author: Kristen L. Capps Umphlet, the Lourie Center for Children's Social and Emotional Wellness; Non-Presenting Author: Stephanie Olarte, he Lourie Center for Children's Social and Emotional Wellness; Non-Presenting Author: Jimmy Venza, the Lourie Center for Children's Social and Emotional Wellness; Non-Presenting Author: Inbar Sofri, University of Haifa, Dept. of Counseling and Human Development; Non-Presenting Author: Yair Ziv, University of Haifa

• The “EA Brief”: An Intervention to Improve Emotional Attachment and Emotional Availability (EA) - Presenting Author: Zeynep Biringen, Colorado State University; Non-Presenting Author: Maren McDonnell, Colorado State University; Non-Presenting Author: Lia Closson, Colorado State University; Non-Presenting Author: Hannah Saunders, Colorado State University; Non-Presenting Author: Bradley Morse, University of Denver; Non-Presenting Author: Michelle Sarche, University of Colorado, Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus