Family risk and early attachment development: The differential role of parental sensitivity.

Family risks are known to be detrimental to children's attachment development. This study investigated whether parental sensitivity plays different roles in early attachment development in the context of risk: Sensitivity was hypothesized to mediate risk effects on attachment, as well as a moderator that shapes the relation between risk and attachment. Multiple family risks, parental sensitivity (defined as responsivity and supportive presence), and children's attachment security of 197 infants and toddlers (Mage  = 15.25 months) and their caregivers were assessed in a prospective study with a cohort-sequential-design in Germany. Caregivers' sensitivity served as a mediator of risk effects on attachment as well as a moderator that buffers adverse consequences of risk. Early sensitivity might be relevant in setting the stage for attachment development supporting resilience.

A los riesgos familiares se les conoce como perjudiciales para el desarrollo de la afectividad en los niños. Este estudio investigó si la sensibilidad del progenitor juega diferentes papeles en el temprano desarrollo de la afectividad en el contexto de riesgo: La hipótesis es que la sensibilidad sirve de intermediaria de los efectos del riesgo sobre la afectividad, y también como una moderadora que moldea la relación entre el riesgo y la afectividad. Los riesgos familiares múltiples, la sensibilidad del progenitor (definida como la presencia de receptividad y apoyo) y la seguridad de la afectividad del niño en 197 infantes y niños pequeñitos (M = 15.25 meses) y de quienes les cuidaban fueron evaluadas en un estudio de probabilidad con un diseño secuencial de grupo en Alemania. La sensibilidad de quien presta el cuidado sirvió como mediadora de los efectos del riesgo sobre la afectividad, así como también de moderadora que amortigua las consecuencias adversas del riesgo. La temprana sensibilidad pudiera ser relevante para sentar las bases de la fortaleza de resistencia de apoyo al desarrollo de la afectividad.

Les risques de la famille sont connus comme étant préjudiciables au développement de l'attachement des enfants. Cette étude s'est attachée à étudier si la sensibilité parentale joue des rôles différents dans le développement précoce de l'attachement dans le contexte de risque: on a pris comme hypothèse que la sensibilité a servi de médiatrice aux effets de risque sur l'attachement, et a également servi de modératrice qui forme la relation entre le risqué et l'attachement. Les risques familiaux multiples, la sensibilité parentale (définie comme réceptivité et présence de soutien), et la sécurité de l'attachement de 197 nourrissons et jeunes enfants (M = 15,25 mois) et des personnes prenant soin d'eux ont été évalués dans une étude prospective avec un plan séquentiel-cohorte, en Allemagne. La sensibilité de la personne prenant soin de l'enfant a servi de médiateur pour les effets de risque sur l'attachement ainsi que de modérateur qui amorti les conséquences adverses de risque. La sensibilité précoce peut s'avérer pertinente dans la préparation du terrain pour le développement de l'attachement qui souvient la résilience.

Self-Reported Psychosocial Stress in Parents With Small Children.

BACKGROUND: Psychosocial stress in early childhood can impair children's health and development. Data on the prevalence of psychosocial stress in families with infants and toddlers in Germany are lacking. Such data could be used to determine the need for prevention and to plan the appropriate preventive measures. METHODS: In 2015, a representative cross-sectional study called Kinder in Deutschland- KiD 0-3 was conducted by questionnaire in pediatricians' practices across Germany. Parents taking their children to the U3-U7a child development checks were asked to self-report information about stress in their families. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. RESULTS: Data from 7549 families went into the analysis. Stressful situations commonly reported by the parents included unplanned pregnancy (21.3%), parenthoodrelated stress (e.g., self-doubt as to parenting competence, 29.6%), and lack of familial and social support for problems and questions arising in relation to the child, as well as for temporary child care (19.7%). Most types of psychosocial stress varied as a function of the child's age group, as categorized by the particular examination for which the child was presenting at the time of the survey (U3-U7a). Couple distress, lack of social support, signs of depression or anxiety symptoms, or inner anger were more commonly reported by parents attending the later examina - tions. Such problems could be addressed by supportive measures (e.g., parent counseling, early child intervention). CONCLUSION: Psychosocial stress affects a large percentage of the parents of small children. A large proportion of parents of small children suffer from psychosocial stress. This should be monitored for accumulation and stability across child development checks and addressed as appropriate. Family practitioners and pediatricians are important partners for effective cooperation between the social system and the health-care system, and for the provision of preventive measures where appropriate.

[Knowledge and use of different support programs in the context of early prevention in relation to family-related psychosocial burden]. / Inanspruchnahme von Angeboten der Frühen Hilfen und darüber hinaus durch psychosozial belastete Eltern.

BACKGROUND: The Federal Initiative for Early Prevention (funded by German ministry BMFSFJ), through the development of specific assistance programmes, supports families that suffer from psychosocial burden. As nationally representative data are missing, the National Centre for Early Prevention carried out a national survey on the psychosocial burden experienced by families with children aged 0-3 years. AIMS: Ascertainment of the connections between family-related psychosocial burden and knowledge and use of different assistance programmes. DATA AND METHODS: Via paediatricians, 8063 parents were recruited to complete a questionnaire on objective burden, subjective experience of burden as well as knowledge and use of assistance programmes. Differences in knowledge and use between educational groups were tested by means of chi-squared tests. Very good knowledge of available assistance programmes and the offer and acceptance of aid by family midwives were subjected to regression analyses. RESULTS: Clear differences in knowledge and use of individual assistance programmes between educational groups were observed. Many programmes are predominantly used by better educated families, although there are exceptions, for example in the case of family midwives. Despite generally small group differences, less-educated families are the proportionally largest user group of family midwives. Furthermore we present average predicted percentages of knowledge and use for specific groups of psychosocially burdened parents as derived from the regression analyses. DISCUSSION: The results are discussed in the context of barriers to access for individual assistance programmes as well as their match with families' needs in the practice of early prevention.

[Growing up under adversity in Germany : Design and methods of a developmental study on risk and protective mechanisms in families with diverse psychosocial risk]. / Aufwachsen unter familiärer Belastung in Deutschland : Design und Methoden einer entwicklungspsychologischen Studie zu Risiko- und Schutzmechanismen bei Familien mit unterschiedlicher psychosozialer Belastung.

Family adversity comprises many risk factors for parents and children. The German early intervention approach Frühe Hilfen aims at providing enduring, effective, and scientifically validated prevention and intervention for effective child protection against those risks. The study on risk and protective mechanisms in the development of families with diverse psychosocial risks aims at identifying those mechanisms that cause and stabilize or moderate and diminish maltreatment and neglect, as well as cognitive, social, and emotional developmental deviations in risk families, specifically in the current German social and child protection system. The study examines the development of competence and early behavior problems in a sample of infants and toddlers and the interaction quality with their caregivers by applying a longitudinal sequential-cohort design. The assessments include developmental tests, systematic observations, and questionnaire data. First results suggest stable risk group membership and moderate stability of single risk factors.