Multigenerational Homes Buffered Behavioral Problems among Children of Latinx but not White non-Latinx Mothers.

Guided by a culture-sensitive attachment framework (Keller, 2016), the purpose of the current study was to examine multigenerational homes as moderators on the associations among maternal depressive symptoms, maternal-child attachment, and child behavioral problems, between White and Latinx women. A subsample (n = 2,366) of The Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) - previously known as the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study - was used with three time points (at child ages 1-, 3-, and 5-years). Mothers reported their depressive symptoms at child age 1, mother-child attachment at child age 3, and child behavioral problems at child age 5. Home structure was assessed through the mothers' responses at child ages 1 and 3. A path model was used to examine the associations among maternal depressive symptoms, mother-child attachment insecurity, and child behavioral problems, with comparisons among four groups: White non-multigenerational homes, White multigenerational homes, Latinx non-multigenerational homes, and Latinx multigenerational homes. Findings revealed that higher mother-child attachment insecurity at age 3 predicted higher internalizing behaviors at age 5, only among children in Latinx, non-multigenerational homes, but not among those in Latinx, multigenerational homes or White homes. This study revealed significant cultural and ethnical differences in household living arrangements and child wellbeing, with significant theoretical contributions to the understanding of cultural phenomena in attachment research and implications towards designing culturally sensitive intervention programs.

Development of an Individualized Responsive Feeding Intervention-Learning Early Infant Feeding Cues: Protocol for a Nonrandomized Study.

BACKGROUND: Responsive infant feeding occurs when a parent recognizes the infant's cues of hunger or satiety and responds promptly to these cues. It is known to promote healthy dietary patterns and infant weight gain and is recommended as part of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. However, the use of responsive infant feeding can be challenging for many parents. Research is needed to assist caregivers recognize infant hunger or satiety cues and overcoming barriers to using responsive infant feeding. OBJECTIVE: The Learning Early Infant Feeding Cues (LEIFc) intervention was designed to fill this gap by using a validated coaching approach, SS-OO-PP-RR ("super," Setting the Stage, Observation and Opportunities, Problem Solving and Planning, Reflection and Review), to promote responsive infant feeding. Guided by the Obesity-Related Behavioral Intervention Trials model, this study aims to test the feasibility and fidelity of the LEIFc intervention in a group of mother-infant dyads. METHODS: This pre-post quasi-experimental study with no control group will recruit mothers (N=30) in their third trimester (28 weeks and beyond) of pregnancy from community settings. Study visit 1 will occur prenatally in which written and video material on infant feeding and infant hunger and satiety cues is provided. Demographic information and plans for infant feeding are also collected prenatally via self-report surveys. The use of responsive infant feeding via subjective (survey) and objective (video) measures is recorded before (study visit 2, 1 month post partum) and after (study visit 5, 4 months post partum) intervention. Coaching on responsive infant feeding during a feeding session is provided by a trained interventionist using the SS-OO-PP-RR approach at study visits 3 (2 months post partum) and 4 (3 months post partum). Infant feeding practices are recorded via survey, and infant weight and length are measured at each postpartum study visit. Qualitative data on the LEIFc intervention are provided by the interventionist and mother. Infant feeding videos will be coded and tabulated for instances of infant cues and maternal responses. Subjective measures of responsive infant feeding will also be tabulated. The use of responsive infant feeding pre-post intervention will be analyzed using matched t tests. Qualitative data will be examined to guide intervention refinement. RESULTS: This study initially began in spring 2020 but was halted because of the COVID-10 pandemic. With new funding, recruitment, enrollment, and data collection began in April 2022 and will continue until April 2023. CONCLUSIONS: After refinement, the LEIFc intervention will be tested in a pilot randomized controlled trial. The long-term goal is to implement LEIFc in the curricula of federally funded maternal-child home visiting programs that serve vulnerable populations-those that often have infant feeding practices that do not align with recommendations and are less likely to use responsive infant feeding. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/44329.

Latino Parents' Perspectives on the Life Trajectories of Mixed-Status Children.

Many immigrant Latino families have one or more U.S. -born children and at least one foreign-born non-citizen child. Contextual theories of human development would argue that these siblings would have very different life trajectories by virtue of their citizenship status or lack thereof. However, researchers and policy-makers know very little about the home environment of mixed-status siblings. Using data from in-depth personal interviews, this study examined parental perceptions of the life trajectories of mixed-status youth. Participants were 18 parents with at least one adolescent between the ages of 10-18 residing at home. Using grounded theory, two broad themes emerged. First, parental perceptions of children's life trajectories based on citizenship and parental concerns' regarding their children's mixed legal status. Within this first theme, parents discussed youth's educational opportunities, job prospects, health care access, and travel restrictions. The second theme was parental concerns' about their children's citizenship status; ambivalence about migrating to the United States; and coping with fear and anxiety. Results of this study highlight the pervasive influence of immigration policies and practices on family dynamics and child development, the risk they posit to youth development and individual family resilience.

Relationship satisfaction and sleep problems among college students: Serial indirect effects via relationship mindfulness and negative emotional symptoms.

ObjectiveThis study examined relationship mindfulness and negative emotional symptoms as serial mediators between relationship satisfaction and sleep problems. Participants: Participants were 242 college students currently in a romantic relationship recruited from a large southeastern university. Methods: Participants completed self-report measures of relationship satisfaction, relationship mindfulness, negative emotional symptoms and sleep disturbances. Serial mediation analyses were conducted, covarying age and attachment orientations. Results: Students who reported higher relationship satisfaction experienced lower sleep problems. Helping explain this association a significant serial mediation model was supported by which relationship mindfulness and subsequent negative emotional symptoms mediated relationship satisfaction and sleep problems. Conclusions: The degree to which a person is more mindful during interactions with a romantic partner appears to play a key role in how relationship satisfaction and negative emotional symptoms are linked to sleep problems.

Describing Maternal Knowledge of Infant Feeding Practices.

INTRODUCTION: This qualitative study aimed to describe first-time mothers' knowledge of infant feeding practices, including the responsive feeding approach. METHOD: This descriptive, qualitative study enrolled first-time mothers in the third trimester of pregnancy. Participants were asked plans for infant feeding and knowledge of infant feeding cues and responsive feeding. NVivo version 11 was used to analyze data using thematic analysis. RESULTS: All mothers (n = 30) intended to breastfeed. Hunger cues such as rooting were described; cessation of eating was consistently mentioned as a fullness cue. Mothers were unfamiliar with responsive feeding yet deduced the meaning of feeding in response to infant cues. Readiness for complementary foods was described by infant age and/or health care provider recommendation; developmental readiness was not described. DISCUSSION: Findings suggest future education and research should focus on responsive feeding and readiness for complementary foods. Finding ways to assist mothers to adhere to recommendations may promote healthy infant growth and prevent childhood obesity.