Early Parent-Child Relationships

Attachment theory has long been at the forefront of research efforts to understand the origins and enduring impact of early parent–child relationships. It has also expanded into a theory of lifespan implications with relevance to problems in developmental psychopathology, early intervention, and mental representation. This review of the expanding research literature on attachment is organized around eight questions: (a) To whom do attachments develop? (b) What are the biological foundations of attachment? (c) How does culture influence attachment and its consequences? (d) What contributes to attachments becoming secure or insecure? (e) How does attachment security change over time? (f) What are the later outcomes of secure or insecure attachments? (g) How does attachment influence thinking and social representations? (h) What are the clinical implications of attachment research? The answers to these questions summarize what has been learned about the importance of early parent–child relationships and identify future research priorities.

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Early parent–child relationships and child sleep at school age

Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology ◽

10.1016/j.appdev.2019.101057 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 64 ◽

pp. 101057

Author(s):

Catherine Cimon-Paquet ◽

Émilie Tétreault ◽

Annie Bernier

Keyword(s):

School Age ◽

Child Sleep ◽

Early Parent ◽

Parent Child Relationships ◽

Parent Child

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THE CIRCLE OF SECURITY INTERVENTION: ENHANCING ATTACHMENT IN EARLY PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS. By Bert Powell, Glen Cooper, Kent Hoffman, and Bob Marvin. The Guilford Press, New York, NY, 2014. pp. 396. Price $**. ISBN 978-1-59385-314-3.

Infant and Child Development ◽

10.1002/icd.1839 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 455-456

Author(s):

Jenna Slutsky

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Circle Of Security ◽

Early Parent ◽

Parent Child Relationships ◽

Parent Child

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Assessment of Early Parent–Child Relationships

The Oxford Handbook of Infant, Toddler, and Preschool Mental Health Assessment ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199837182.013.3 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 45-77

Author(s):

Roseanne Clark ◽

Audrey Tluczek ◽

Elizabeth C. Moore ◽

Amber L. Evenson

Keyword(s):

Cultural Context ◽

Assessment Tools ◽

Assessment Process ◽

Parent Child Relationship ◽

Wide Range ◽

The Individual ◽

Early Parent ◽

Relationship Assessment ◽

Parent Child Relationships ◽

Parent Child

Using a relational approach to assessment integrates the theoretical application of developmental, psychological and psychiatric disciplines (Clark, Tluczek, & Gallagher, 2004; Sameroff & Emde, 1989; Sameroff, McDonough, & Rosenblum, 2004). Clark, Tluczek, Moore, and Evenson (2019, Chapter 2) presents a review of these perspectives. This chapter introduces best practices in the assessment of parent–child relationships and provides an in-depth description and illustration of the Parent–Child Early Relational Assessment, composed of both objective ratings and a subjective video replay interview used to engage the parent in assessing his or her relationship with his or her child. In addition, reliability, validity, research findings, and the clinical utility of a wide range of parent–child relationship assessment tools and procedures are provided. The importance of considering the individual contributions of the parent, the infant or young child, the family, and the cultural context in the assessment process is highlighted. Guidelines are also included on the use of relational assessments in research and to inform clinical practice.

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Parental Bonding and Body Mass Index in a Female Community Sample: The Mediating Role of Eating Disorder Thoughts and Core Beliefs

Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy ◽

10.1017/s1352465815000053 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 44 (1) ◽

pp. 123-127

Author(s):

Myra J. Cooper ◽

Eliane Young

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

Eating Disorder ◽

Body Mass ◽

Psychological Treatment ◽

Community Sample ◽

Parental Bonding ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Early Parent ◽

Parent Child Relationships ◽

Parent Child

Background: It is likely that disrupted early parent-child relationships, eating disorder related cognitions and negative self-beliefs are relevant to some women who are overweight/obese. Aims: This study tested the hypotheses that disrupted parent-child relationships would be linked to higher body mass index (BMI) and that this relationship would then be mediated by cognition. Method: A group of women were recruited from the community and completed measures of eating disorder (ED) thoughts, negative self-beliefs, and parental bonding. Individual body mass indices (BMIs) were calculated. Results: One hundred and eighteen women completed the study. There was a relationship between parental bonding and higher BMI. As hypothesized, the relationship between parental bonding (as measured by maternal care, and paternal overprotection) and BMI appeared to be mediated by a range of ED thoughts, and some negative self-beliefs. Conclusion: The cognitions measured here, both ED related cognitions and negative self-beliefs, may be a useful target when considering psychological treatment for women who are overweight or obese.

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