What works for whom? Mother's psychological distress as a moderator of the effectiveness of a home visiting intervention.

Attachment-based home visiting programs that serve new mothers experiencing psychological distress may advance health equity by helping families systemically exposed to adversity. This study examined whether one such program (Promoting First Relationships/PFR) had particularly beneficial effects on maternal and child relationship outcomes for mothers reporting the greatest psychological distress. A randomized controlled trial of the PFR program included a low-income sample of 252 Spanish- and English-speaking mother-child dyads referred prenatally for mental health concerns. The sample of mothers was 65.5% White, 17.5% Black, and 17.1% multiracial or other racial groups; 47.2% reported Hispanic ethnicity. The moderating variable of psychological distress was measured using maternal-reported screening tools for symptoms of depression, anxiety, anger, post-traumatic stress, and interpersonal sensitivity. Outcomes included observed parenting sensitivity and self-reported understanding of infants/toddlers, caregiving confidence, and child externalizing behavior. Results showed a significant treatment condition by baseline psychological distress interaction for observed parenting sensitivity such that differences in outcomes favoring the PFR condition were greatest among those with high baseline psychological distress (baseline child age 6-12 weeks). In a low-income sample of new mothers, those with the greatest need, as indicated by high psychological distress, showed greater improvements in their sensitive and responsive caregiving if they were randomized to the PFR treatment condition.

Los programas de visita a casa basados en la afectividad que sirven a madres nuevas que experimentan angustia sicológica pudieran mejorar la equidad de salud ayudando a familias sistemáticamente expuestas a circunstancias adversas. Este estudio examinó si uno de tales programas (Promover Primeras Relaciones /PFR) tiene particularmente efectos beneficiosos en los resultados de la relación materna y del niño para madres que reportan la mayor angustia sicológica. Un ensayo controlado al azar sobre el programa PFR incluyó un grupo muestra de bajos recursos económicos de 252 díadas de madre-niño que hablaban español o inglés, referidas prenatalmente por razón de salud mental. El grupo muestra de madres estaba compuesto de 65.5% blancas, 17.5% negras, y 17.1% multirracial o de otros grupos raciales; el 47.2% reportó origen étnico hispano. La variable moderadora de angustia sicológica se midió con herramientas de detección reportadas por las madres para síntomas de depresión, ansiedad, ira, estrés postraumático y sensibilidad interpersonal. Entre los resultados se incluyen la observada sensibilidad de crianza y la auto-reportada comprensión de infantes y niños pequeñitos, la confianza en la prestación de cuidado, así como la conducta de externalización del niño. Los resultados muestran una significativa condición de tratamiento por medio de interacción de angustia sicológica al nivel básico para la observada sensibilidad de crianza, de manera que las diferencias en resultados que favorecen la condición PFR fueron mayores entre quienes presentaban una alta angustia sicológica de base (punto base edad del niño 6 a 12 semanas). En un grupo muestra de madres nuevas de bajos recursos económicos, aquellas con las mayores necesidades, tal como indica la alta angustia sicológica, mostraron mayores logros en su sensibilidad y el cuidado sensible si se les había seleccionado al azar para la condición de tratamiento PFR.

Les programmes de visite à domicile basés sur l'attachement qui servant des nouvelles mères faisant l'expérience de détresse psychologique peuvent faire avancer l'équité en santé en aidant des familles systématiquement exposées à l'adversité. Cette étude a examiné si un tel programme (la Promotion de Premières Relations, soit en anglais Promoting First Relationships/PFR) avait des effets particulièrement bénéfiques sur les résultats de relation maternelle et enfant pour les mères faisant état de la plus grande détresse psychologique. Un essai contrôlé randomisé du programme PFR a inclus un échantillon de 252 dyades mères-enfants de milieu défavorisé, parlant espagnol et anglais, référées avant la naissance pour des problèmes de santé mentale. L'échantillon de mères était 65,5% caucasiennes/blanches, 17,5% noires, and 17,1% multiraciales ou autres groupes raciaux, 47,2% faisant état d'une ethnicité hispanique. La variable modératrice de détresse psychologique a été mesurée en utilisant des outils de dépistage rapportés par la mère de dépression, d'anxiété, de stress post-traumatique, et de sensibilité interpersonnelle. Les résultats ont inclus une sensibilité de parentage observée et une compréhension auto-rapportée des bébés/petits enfants, une confiance de parentage, et un comportement externalisant de l'enfant. Les résultats montrent une condition de traitement importante par l'interaction psychologique de base pour la sensibilité de parentage observée telles que les différences dans les résultats favorisant la condition PFR étaient les plus grandes parmi celles avec la base de détresse psychologique élevée (âge de base de l'enfant 6-12 semaines). Chez un échantillon de nouvelles mères de milieux défavorisés, celles ayant le besoin le plus élevé, indiqué par une haute détresse psychologique, ont fait preuve des plus améliorations dans leur parentage sensible et réactif si elles étaient randomisées pour la condition de traitement PFR.

Sleep Problems, Daily Napping Behavior, and Social-Emotional Functioning among Young Children from Families Referred to Child Protective Services.

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: Insufficient and/or poor-quality sleep may contribute to poor social-emotional well-being, and vice versa, among young children who have experienced maltreatment. This study examined longitudinal associations between sleep and social-emotional functioning among a sample of infants and toddlers from families involved with Child Protective Services (CPS) for maltreatment. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 123 parents and their infant or toddler (baseline age 10 to 24 months) from families referred to CPS for maltreatment. METHODS: Data were collected at baseline and at 3, 6 and 9 months post-baseline. At all time points, parents completed a questionnaire about their child's social-emotional functioning including internalizing behavior, externalizing behavior, and competence in social-emotional skills and social relatedness. At 3 months post-baseline, parents reported about their child's sleep problems and daily napping behavior. RESULTS: Higher baseline externalizing behavior was associated with a greater propensity for sleep problems at 3 months post-baseline. Sleep problems at 3 months post-baseline were associated with higher internalizing and higher externalizing behavior at 9 months post-baseline. Daily napping at 3 months post-baseline was associated with lower internalizing behavior, lower externalizing behavior, and higher competence at 9 months post-baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Among this sample of young children from families involved with CPS for maltreatment, parents' concerns about their child having a sleep problem longitudinally associated with children's internalizing and externalizing behavior. Children's daily napping behavior longitudinally associated with later internalizing behavior, externalizing behavior, and competence.

Sleep Patterns, Problems and Ecology among Toddlers in Families with a Child Protective Services Maltreatment Referral.

PURPOSE: To describe sleep patterns, problems, and ecology among toddlers (13 to 36 months) from families referred to Child Protective Services (CPS) for maltreatment and to compare sleep duration among a subgroup (24- to 36-month-olds) to previously published population-based data. DESIGN AND METHODS: A secondary analysis of a larger longitudinal study was conducted. Participants included 113 parent-toddler dyads recruited out of CPS offices based on having a recent maltreatment referral. Parents reported about their toddler's sleep at two time points (approximately six months apart). RESULTS: At the earlier and later time points, respectively, mean sleep duration was 11.03 and 10.90 h (nighttime), 1.36 and 1.36 h (daytime), and 12.47 and 12.28 h (total 24-h). Of the toddlers, 24% and 17% had two or more nighttime awakenings, 34% and 33% had at least a somewhat hard time falling asleep, and 25% and 26% had difficulty sleeping alone. Mean bedtimes were 8:50 pm and 8:58 pm. Nighttime sleeping arrangement/location, nap arrangement/location, and method of falling asleep at night varied. Compared to the population-based data, nighttime sleep duration was 43 min longer and nap duration was 46 min shorter in the CPS sample. CONCLUSIONS: Symptoms of behavioral sleep problems were common in this sample of toddlers from families referred to CPS for maltreatment. Distribution of sleep, but not total 24-hour sleep, differed significantly between the CPS sample and the population-based data. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Nurses caring for toddlers from families involved with CPS can play an integral role promoting sleep health and addressing behavioral sleep problems.

Trying to Do What's Best: Maternal Perspectives About Toddler Sleep Health Among an Underresourced Sample of Mothers With Diverse Racial and Ethnic Identities.

INTRODUCTION: This study describes mothers' knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices about their toddler's sleep health among an underresourced sample of mothers with diverse racial and ethnic identities. METHOD: This was a descriptive qualitative study with 16 mothers and their 12- to 36-month-old child. Mothers completed a semistructured, audio-recorded interview about their toddler's sleep health. Data were analyzed using inductive content analysis on the basis of established methods. RESULTS: Mothers self-identified as 18.8% Black, 43.8% White, 12.5% multiracial, 25.0% other race, and 37.5% Hispanic. Of the mothers, 80.0% reported a past year household income of ≤ $40,000. A core construct, "Trying to do What's Best," emerged from the interview data, and this construct included three domains: Getting Good Sleep, Getting Thrown Off, and Rolling With It. DISCUSSION: Findings support future strengths-based and multilevel sleep health-promoting interventions.

Call to action: Prioritizing sleep health among US children and youth residing in alternative care settings.

Sleep health is a critical but under-recognized area of concern for the more than 650,000 children served by the US child welfare system each year. While sleep is vital to optimal child health and development, it is likely harmed by the multiple adversities and traumas experienced among children and youth residing in alternative care settings (ie, kinship care, nonrelative foster care, group homes). Children residing in alternative care settings have experienced, at a minimum, the trauma of removal from a biological parent's care and would benefit from holistic, comprehensive care approaches inclusive of sleep health. Furthermore, few studies are currently available to guide practitioners and policymakers in promoting sleep health among these children. In this Call to Action, our goal is to draw attention to the sleep health of children residing in alternative care settings. We highlight the need for a more robust evidence base to address major knowledge gaps and outline concrete steps toward building future promising sleep health-promoting practices and policies supporting children residing in alternative care settings.

Randomized trial of promoting first relationships for new mothers who received community mental health services in pregnancy.

The effectiveness of Promoting First Relationships (PFR), a 10-week home visiting program with video feedback, was tested in a randomized controlled trial involving 252 mothers and their 8- to 12-week-old infants. Mothers were eligible if they initiated treatment after mental health screening (depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) at a community or public health primary care center in pregnancy. At baseline, 51% had mild to severe depression symptoms, 54% had mild to severe anxiety, and 35% had PTSD. Their ages ranged from 18 to 42 years. Mothers were 66% White, 18% Black, and 16% other races. Forty-seven percent identified as Hispanic, and 33% preferred to read and speak in Spanish. The median family annual income was less than $20,000. The PFR program or receipt of a resource packet (control condition) followed the baseline assessment and randomization; we assessed outcomes when infants were age 6 and 12 months. Compared to mothers in the control condition, mothers in the PFR condition had significantly (ps < .05) higher observed sensitivity scores at both follow-up time points (d = .25, d = .26), had improved understanding of infant-toddler social-emotional needs at both time points (d = .21, d = .45), and reported less infant externalizing behavior at age 12 months (d = .28). This study is the fourth completed randomized controlled trial of the PFR program, all involving populations experiencing adversity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Impact of a home visiting program on sleep problems among young children experiencing adversity.

BACKGROUND: Adversity may negatively impact young children's sleep but receiving home visitation services could buffer children from this potential consequence of adversity. OBJECTIVE: This study examined whether young children's adverse experiences increased their risk for sleep problems and if Promoting First Relationships® (PFR), a home visitation program, reduced children's risk for sleep problems both directly and indirectly through increased parenting sensitivity. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Participants were 247 parents and their 10- to 24-month-old child recruited from Child Protective Services offices. METHODS: A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial comparing PFR to a resource and referral control condition was conducted. Four time points of data were collected from baseline to 6 months post-intervention. Parenting sensitivity was measured at all time points using a parent-child interaction tool. Children's adversities were measured at various time points using caregiver report tools and official state records. Children's sleep problems were reported by parents at 6 months post-intervention. RESULTS: The likelihood of having a sleep problem increased as children's adversities increased (ß = .23, SE = .08, p = .005). There was no effect (direct or indirect) of treatment assignment on children's sleep problems (ps > .05). Post hoc analyses showed a treatment assignment by adversity interaction such that children's odds of having a sleep problem increased as their adversities increased, but only among children in the control condition (b = -0.37, SE = 0.17, p = .030). CONCLUSIONS: Experiencing more adversities associated with a greater risk for sleep problems, but PFR buffered children from this risk.