Self-regulation and Psychopathology in Young Children.

The current study examined concurrent relationships between children's self-regulation, measured behaviorally and by parent-report, and children's internalizing and externalizing symptoms. The aim was to distinguish which components of self-regulation (attention vs. inhibitory control, "hot" vs. "cool" regulation) best predict dimensional symptomatology and clinical disorders in young children. The participants were 120 children, ages 4-8 years old. Results showed that greater parent-reported attention was associated with fewer internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Behaviorally-measured hot inhibitory control related to fewer internalizing symptoms, whereas parent-reported inhibitory control related to fewer externalizing symptoms. Similar patterns emerged for clinical diagnoses, with parent-rated attention most strongly predicting disorders across domains. Results support prior evidence implicating self-regulatory deficits in externalizing problems, while also demonstrating that components of self-regulation are impaired with internalizing symptoms. Further, different sub-components of self-regulation relate to different dimensions of psychopathology in children. Interventions should target these areas in children at-risk for disorders.

Maternal-fetal attachment, parenting stress during infancy, and child outcomes at age 3 years.

Maternal-fetal attachment (MFA), a woman's relationship with and affiliative behaviors toward her unborn child, has been linked to near-term infant physical and developmental outcomes. However, further longitudinal research is needed to understand whether the impact of MFA extends past the earliest years of life. The current study explored relationships between MFA and child socioemotional competence and behavior problems at age 3 and whether parenting stress mediated the association between MFA and child outcomes. Data were collected from 221 primarily Black/African-American mothers who completed a scale of MFA during pregnancy. Mothers reported on parenting stress at infant age 7 months and reported on child socioemotional competence and problem behaviors at child age 3 years. In path analyses, MFA was directly associated with child socioemotional competence at age 3 years, but an indirect association between MFA and socioemotional competence via parenting stress was not significant. We also observed a significant indirect association between lower MFA and child internalizing behavior problems via parenting stress that was related to maternal dissatisfaction regarding interactions with her child. Findings suggest that assessing MFA may serve as a means to identify dyads who would benefit from support to promote individual health outcomes.

La afectividad materno-fetal (MFA), la relación y comportamientos de afiliación de una mujer hacia su niño en el vientre, ha sido conectada a los resultados físicos y de desarrollo del infante cuya gestación está cerca al término. Sin embargo, se necesita investigación longitudinal adicional para comprender si el impacto de MFA se extiende más allá de los más tempranos años de vida. El presente estudio exploró las relaciones entre MFA y la competencia socioemocional y problemas de comportamiento del niño a la edad de 3 años y si el estrés de crianza medió la asociación entre MFA y los resultados en el niño. Se recogió información de 221 madres, primariamente negras/afroamericanas, que completaron una escala de MFA durante el embarazo. Las madres reportaron sobre el estrés de crianza cuando el infante tenía 7 meses y reportaron sobre la competencia socioemocional y los problemas de comportamiento del niño cuando éste tenía 3 años. En análisis de trayectoria, se asoció MFA directamente con la competencia socioemocional del niño a la edad de 3 años, pero una asociación indirecta entre MFA y la competencia socioemocional por medio del estrés de crianza no fue significativa. También observamos una significativa asociación indirecta entre MFA y la internalización de problemas del comportamiento por parte del niño vía el estrés de crianza que se relacionó con la insatisfacción materna en cuanto a las interacciones con su niño. Los resultados indican que evaluar MFA pudiera servir como un medio de identificar díadas que se beneficiarían del apoyo para promover resultados de salud individuales.

L'attachement maternel foetal (Maternal-fetal attachment, soit MFA), une relation de la femme avec son enfant à naître et des comportements affiliatifs envers l'enfant à naître, a été lié à des résultats physiques et développementaux du bébé quasiment à terme. Cependant des recherches longitudinales plus approfondies sont nécessaires afin de comprendre si l'impact du MFA dépasse les premières années de la vie. Cette étude a exploré les relations entre le MFA et la compétence socio-émotionnelle de l'enfant et les problèmes de comportement à l'âge de trois ans et si le stress de parentage affectait l'association entre le MFA et les résultats sur l'enfant. Les données ont été recueillies à partir de 221 mères américaines majoritairement noires/afro-américaines qui ont rempli l'échelle du MFA durant la grossesse. Les mères ont fait état de stress de parentage à l'âge de 7 mois pour le bébé et répondu à des questions sur la compétence socio-émotionnelle de l'enfant et les problèmes de comportement à l'âge de 3 ans. Dans les analyses de trajectoire le MFA était directement lié à la compétence socio-émotionnelle de l'enfant à l'âge de 3 ans, mais un lien indirect entre le MFA et la compétence socio-émotionnelle à travers le stress de parentage n'était pas important. Nous avons aussi observé un lien indirect important entre le MFA et les problèmes de comportement d'internalisation de l'enfant au travers du stress de parentage qui était lié à l'insatisfaction maternelle concernant les interactions avec son enfant. Les résultats suggèrent que l'évaluation du MFA peut servir de moyen d'identifier des dyades qui bénéficierait d'un soutien pour promouvoir des résultats de santé individuels.

Targeting cognitive control to reduce anxiety in very young children: A proof of concept study.

OBJECTIVE: Underdeveloped cognitive control (CC)-the capacity to flexibly adjust to changing environments-may predispose some children to early onset anxiety disorders and represents a promising intervention target. The current study established and pilot-tested "Camp Kidpower"-a novel group-based, interactive CC training intervention-and assessed its impacts on behavioral and neurophysiological indices of CC among preschool children with elevated anxiety symptoms. METHODS: Forty-four anxious children (4-6 years) were enrolled in Camp Kidpower, delivered in four sessions over 10 days. Before and after camp, children's capacity for CC was measured using well-validated, non-trained behavioral tasks and error-related negativity (ERN). Child anxiety symptoms were measured by parent report on the Spence Preschool Anxiety Scale. RESULTS: Thirty-two children completed the study, as defined by completion of pre- and follow-up assessments and at least three camp sessions. From baseline to after camp, performance on behavioral tests of CC improved, ERN amplitude increased, and anxiety symptoms decreased. CONCLUSION: Results provide initial evidence that play-based cognitive training targeted to behavioral and brain markers of CC reduces anxiety in preschoolers.