Validation of the anxiety subscale of the Spanish version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS-A).

Introduction: There is a need to implement routine perinatal mental health screening in Spain. Therefore, it is necessary to systematise the detection of depressive and anxious symptoms in pregnancy and postpartum using the same instrument. The Edinburgh Postnatal Stress Depression Scale (EPDS) is frequently used as a rapid, effective and cross-culturally validated screening tool for perinatal depression. In several countries, an Anxiety subscale, the EPDS-A, was identified within the EPDS. Although the factorial structure of the EPDS has been investigated in Spanish population, the EPDS-A has not yet been validated. This study aimed to validate the EPDS-A as a measure of perinatal anxiety in Spanish population. Methods: 161 women were evaluated with the EPDS and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) during pregnancy and postpartum. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to confirm the trifactorial structure of the EPDS, comprising the dimensions of Depression, Anhedonia and Anxiety. Likewise, the invariance of the trifactorial model between pregnancy and postpartum was tested. Finally, the correlations between the EPDS-A and the STAI subscales (State Anxiety and Trait Anxiety) were calculated. Results: The Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) driven three-factor structure of the EPDS, consisting of an Anhedonia factor (Items 1, 2, and 10), an Anxiety factor (Items 3, 4, 5, and 6) and a Depression factor (Items 7, 8, and 9), was the best measurement model for the current data compared to the alternative model tested [χ2 = 34.592, df = 32, p = 0.34; χ2/df = 1.08; RMSEA = 0.023, 90% Confidence Interval [CI] [0.000, 0.064], CFI = 0.996, GFI = 0.960]. The model's invariance between pregnant and postpartum women was confirmed. The existence of an Anxiety subscale within the EPDS was also confirmed. The scores obtained with the EPDS-A correlated moderately with scores on both subscales of the STAI during pregnancy and after delivery. Using the STAI as a criterion and prioritising the instrument's sensitivity, a cut-off point of 4 points was established for the EPDS-A. Conclusion: Our results confirm the trifactorial structure of the EPDS in Spanish population. The Anxiety subscale was validated for routine perinatal mental health screening.

Parental Perception of Child Vulnerability in Parents of Young Children.

OBJECTIVE: Parental perception that one's child may be vulnerable to a threatening illness appears to be negatively associated with the child's socioemotional development. However, there are no studies that have analyzed the association of these dysfunctional parental perceptions on the emotional development of children who have not suffered a previous serious illness. The main objective of the present study was to study the relationship between parental perception of child vulnerability (PPCV) and children's socioemotional development, hypothesizing that PPCV is associated both directly and indirectly with children's socioemotional development through parental reflective functioning and parental competence. METHODS: The study involved 433 mothers and 113 fathers of infants between 0 and 3 years. RESULTS: PPCV was negatively associated with children's socioemotional development. Likewise, PPCV was indirectly and positively related to children's socioemotional development through the dimension of Interest and Curiosity of parental reflective functioning and parental competence. CONCLUSIONS: The literature has shown that parental dysfunctional perceptions about the health of their children can be negatively associated with children's socioemotional development. However, if these concerns are associated with increased interest and curiosity about the mental states of the child, this may actually promote the child's socioemotional development.

Maternal mentalization and child emotion regulation: A comparison of different phases of early childhood.

Parental reflective functioning refers to the parents' ability to reflect on the internal mental states of their children, which will make them respond more sensitively to their children´s need. The relation between parental reflective functioning and child emotion regulation has been considered a key factor in early childhood parenting but further research is needed about this relationship throughout child's development. The aim of this paper was to analyze this interaction considering the early childhood development stages. Three hundred and eighty one mothers of babies between 0 and 26 months of age participated in the study. The PRFQ and ASQ:SE-2 questionnaires were administered to assess parental reflective functioning and child emotion regulation, respectively. Results showed that maternal RF and child emotion regulation do not follow a linear process according to the childhood development stages, and also that the maternal PM dimension generates a conditional effect in children's emotion regulation. These results highlight the importance of paying attention to specific early childhood developmental stages to understand how maternal reflective functioning influences child´s ability to calm and adjust to her/his environment.

Parental perception of child vulnerability and parental competence: The role of postnatal depression and parental stress in fathers and mothers.

INTRODUCTION: Parents' perception that their child may be vulnerable to serious life-threatening illnesses can have negative effects on how they exercise their parenting. No studies have yet been carried out on parent´s perception of their child's vulnerability, when the child has not suffered a severe illness. This study tries to analyze the relationship between parent´s perception of their children´s vulnerability and parental competence, and analyzes the mediating role of postnatal depression and parental stress. METHOD: The study was carried out on mothers and fathers of full-term infants who did not have any serious illnesses. A total of 965 people (385 fathers and 580 mothers) participated in the study. RESULTS: The results revealed an association between parental perception of their child's vulnerability and parent's perception of parental competence through depression and parental stress. However, this association was different for fathers and mothers. CONCLUSION: The variable of perception of child's vulnerability was a relevant factor to understand parental competence.

La relación entre la función reflexiva parental y el ajuste socioemocional de bebés de 9 a 14 meses de la Comunidad Aytónoma Vasca / The relationship between the parental refletive function and the socio-emotional adjustment of babies 9-14 moths old from the Basque Autonomous Country

La interacción entre el bebé y sus figuras de apego es un elemento clave para el desarrollo socioemocional de los/las menores. El objetivo principal del presente estudio fue analizar la relación entre la función reflexiva parental y la autorregulación socioemocional de bebés de 9 a 14 meses de edad de la CAV. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 108 padres y madres (14 hombres y 92 mujeres) de menores entre 9 y 14 meses de edad pertenecientes al consorcio de Haurreskolas del País Vasco. Los resultados muestran que la función reflexiva parental se asocia con una autorregulación socioemocional más ajustada de los/ las menores

The relationship that is established between the baby and their attachment figures is essential for the socioemotional development of the child. The main goal of this research was to analyze the relationship between the parental reflective functioning and socio-emotional self regulation of infants between 9 to 14 months old from CAV. The sample consisted of 108 parents (14 men and 92 women) of infants between 9 to 14 months old who were enrolled at the Haurreskolas Consortium from the Basque Country. The results showed that parental reflective functioning is related to the optimal socioemotional self regulation of infants

La relación entre las competencias paterna y materna y el ajuste socioemocional de bebés de 0 a 2 años de la CAV / The relationship between paternal and maternal competences and the socio-emocional adjustment of babies from 0 to 2 years of the Basque Country

La relación que se establece entre el bebé y sus figuras de apego durante sus primeros años de vida es fundamental de cara al desarrollo socioemocional de los/las menores. El objetivo principal del presente estudio fue analizar la relación entre las competencias parentales del padre y de la madre y el desarrollo socioemocional de menores entre 0 a 2 años de la CAV. Como objetivo secundario, se analizó si existen diferencias significativas en competencias parentales según el desarrollo socioemocional de los/las menores. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 676 padres y madres (192 hombres y 485 mujeres) de menores entre 0 y 2 años pertenecientes al consorcio de Haurreskolak del País Vasco. Los resultados muestran que la figura materna ejerce una influencia fundamental en el desarrollo socioemocional del menor en su primer año de vida y la figura paterna tiene un papel fundamental sobre todo a partir de los 9 meses de edad contribuyendo al óptimo ajuste socioemocional de los/las menores

The relationship that is established between the baby and their attachment figures during their first years of life is essential for the socioemotional development of the child. The main goal of this research was to analyze the relationship between the parenting skills of the father and mother, and the socio-emotional development of infants between 0 to 2 years from CAV. As a secondary goal, it was analyzed whether there were significant differences in parenting skills by socioemotional development of the child. The sample consisted of 676 parents (192 men and 485 women) of infants between 0 and 2 years of age who were enrolled at Haurreskolak Consortium from the Basque Country. The results showed that the mother figure exerts a fundamental influence on the socio-emotional development of infants in their first year of life, and the father figure exerts an essential role, especially from 9 months of age, by contributing to the optimal socio-emotional adjustment of the infant

Egokitzen infantil: análisis de la eficacia de un programa de intervención grupal con hijos/as de padres/madres divorciados / Egokitzen infantil: the efficacy analysis of a group intervention program for children of divorced parents

Este estudio analiza la eficacia del programa de in-tervención "Egokitzen Infantil” para hijos/as de padres/madres divorciados. Los objetivos de este estudio son presentar el programa "Egokitzen Infantil”, analizar la eficacia de este programa en función de las variables de interés (percepción del conflicto interparental, inseguridad en el sistema familiar y regulación emocional) y analizar el impacto del programa en la salud de los/as menores. Diez hijos/as de padres/madres divorciados participaron en el grupo. Los resultados tras la evaluación pre-tratamiento y post-tratamiento muestran que las hipótesis se confirmaron parcialmente. Se describen también las limitaciones de este estudio

This study analyzed the feasibility of a group inter-vention program "Egokitzen Infantil” for children of divorced parents. The aims of this study are to introduce "Egokitzen Infantil” program, analyze the efficacy of this program in terms of inter-parental conflict, insecurity in family system and emotional regulation and analyze the impact of the program on children ́s health. Ten children of divorced parents participated in the group. Results based on the pre-treatment and post-treatment evalua-tion shows that the hypotheses were partially confirmed. Limitations of the study are discussed