Postpartum depression is a significant public health problem facing women, children, and families in the United States with an estimated 10-15% of U.S. mothers experiencing an episode of non-psychotic depression within six months of delivery. The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between maternal depression during the first three years postpartum and child social competence and display of problem behaviors at first grade. The impact of several characteristics of maternal depression were examined including general exposure, timing of initial onset in the postpartum period, severity of symptoms along the trajectory of initial onset, and chronicity of symptoms. This study also explored the mediating and moderating influences of maternal sensitivity, as well as the moderating influence of exposure to nonmaternal care. This study was based upon secondary analysis of data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care (NICHD SECC), a multi-site, prospective, three-phase longitudinal study. The sample consisted of 679 infants and their families that participated in both Phase I and Phase II of the NICHD SECC, had compete data on all variables of interest in the study, and had non-depressed mothers at first grade. Results identified the first six months postpartum as a sensitive period of risk for depression initiation. Severity of symptoms was also found to be important. In some instances depression alone did not increase risk for lower levels of social competence, but severity of symptoms above cut points indicating depression did. Chronic depression at 24 months rather than 36 months postpartum was found to pose the greatest magnitude of negative influence on outcome. Maternal sensitivity partially mediated the negative impact of maternal depression on child outcome only when averaged across the first 36 months postpartum, or when assessed at later time points in the postpartum period (24 or 36 months. All mediations were modest in magnitude. Higher levels of maternal sensitivity buffered the negative impact of maternal depression among earlier onset episodes (six months), and ever exposure to nonmaternal care by 24 months was found to buffer the negative impact of chronic depression at 24 months on both mother and teacher reports of social competence.

Background: Research exploring the developmental of adolescent antisocial behaviour suggests that a secure attachment style is a protective factor against problem behaviour (Bowlby, 1969). It is theorised that disruptions in the attachment relationship can increase the likelihood of adjustment difficulties in adolescence, including antisocial behaviour (MacDonald, 1985). Such relationships have been inferred by cross-sectional research studies, but have yet to be tested in a longitudinal sample. Aims: This research is a secondary data analysis, using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children cohort study, to explore the relationship between attachment and adolescent antisocial behaviour at age 15.5 years. Attachment was measured using three component measures; maternal sensitivity in infancy (sample 1), separations from main caregiver in early childhood, age 3-5 years (sample 2) and the presence of separation anxiety in middle childhood, age 81 months, 6.75 years (sample 3). Results: Logistic regression analyses were used to explore the relationships. Using available data, in sample 1 (n=456 complete cases) no evidence was found to support an association between non-positive maternal sensitivity in infancy and an increased incidence of adolescent antisocial behaviour (OR=0.79 [CI=0.42-1.48], p=0.46). In sample two (n=3,961), the number of separations in infancy were not found to significantly increase the risk of adolescent antisocial behaviour (OR=1.26 [CI=0.94-1.71], p=0.17). Separation anxiety in middle childhood was not found to have an effect on adolescent antisocial behaviour (OR=1.01 [CI=0.80-1.26], p=0.96). Conclusions: The findings suggest that although components of attachment, as measured in this study, were hypothesised to be associated with an increased risk of adolescent antisocial behaviour, this was not statistically supported in this study. In this study effects may be limited due to attrition, leading to the loss of antisocial adolescents from the study, creating a bias in the sample studied.

abstract: Clinically meaningful emotional and behavioral problems are thought to be present beginning in infancy, and may be reliably assessed in children as young as 12 months old. However, few studies have investigated early correlates of emotional and behavioral problems assessed in infancy. The current study investigates the direct and interactive contributions of early infant and caregiver characteristics thought to play an important role in the ontogeny of behavior problems. Specifically, the study examines: (1) the links between temperamental reactivity across the first year of life and behavior problems at 18 months, (2) whether children high in temperamental reactivity are differentially susceptible to variations in maternal sensitivity, (3) the extent to which child temperamental risk or susceptibility may further be explained by mothers’ experiences of stressful life events (SLEs) during and before pregnancy. Data were collected from 322 Mexican American families during prenatal, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-week home interviews, as well as during 12- and 18-month lab interviews. Mother reports of SLEs were obtained between 23-40 weeks gestation; temperamental negativity and surgency at 6 weeks and 12 months; and internalizing and externalizing behaviors at 18 months. Maternal sensitivity during structured mother-infant interaction tasks at the 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-week visits was assessed by objective observer ratings. Study findings indicated that maternal SLEs before birth were associated with more infant negativity across the first year of life, and that negativity in turn was associated with more internalizing problems at 18 months. Ecological stressors thought to be associated with sociodemographic risk factors such as low-income and ethnic minority status may begin to exert cascades of influence on children’s developmental outcomes even before birth. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Psychology 2016

abstract: The construct of adult emotional intelligence has gained increasing attention over the last 15 years given its significant socioemotional implications for the ability to label, understand, and regulate emotions. There is a gap, however, in understanding how emotional intelligence develops in children. Parenting is one of the most salient predictors of children’s behavior and the current study investigated its prospective link to children’s emotional intelligence. More preceisely, this study took a differentiated approach to parenting by examining the distinct contributions of maternal sensitivity and emotion socialization to children’s emotional intelligence. In addition, executive function, considered a “conductor” of higher-order skills and a neurocognitive correlate of emotional intelligence, was examined as a possible mechanism by which parenting influences emotional intelligence. Data were collected from 269 Mexican-American mother-child dyads during 2-year (parenting), 4.5-year (executive function), and 6-year (emotional intelligence) laboratory visits. Both parenting variables were assessed by objective observer ratings. Exeutive function and emotional intelligence were examined as latent constructs comprised of relevant parent-reported and objective measures. Due to a lack of adequate fit, the emotional intelligence variable was separated into two distinct latent constructs, emotion knowledge/understanding and emotion dysregulation. Results indicated that neither dimension of parenting was predictive of dimensions of emotional intelligence. On the other hand, children’s executive function was positively related to emotion knowledge. Finally, executive function did not emerge as a mediator of the relation between parenting and dimensions of emotional intelligence. Taken together, these findings highlight the need for a nuanced developmental and bioecological framework in the study of childen’s executive function and emotional intelligence. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Psychology 2020

<p dir="ltr">The present study explored the association between maternal use of food to soothe and maternal sensitivity, while considering the potential moderating role of child negative affectivity. Before addressing the key questions, the congruence and stability of key constructs at two different time points, 12 and 18 months, using both self-reported and observer-reported data, were examined. A nonclinical sample of 136 mother-child dyads were recruited. Maternal use of food to soothe, child negative affectivity, and maternal sensitivity were observed across lab visits at both time points, 12 and 18 months. Mothers completed questionnaires about maternal use of food to soothe and child negative affectivity at both time points. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the associations and potential interaction effects between maternal sensitivity and child negative affectivity on maternal use of food to soothe.</p><p dir="ltr">Findings showed that maternal sensitivity was negatively associated with mothers’ use of food to soothe at 12 months in the lab, although this association was not observed at 18 months. Child negative affectivity did not moderate the significant association mentioned. The study also found low to moderate stability in mother-reported use of food to soothe, child negative affectivity, and maternal sensitivity across the two time points. Furthermore, the congruence between self-reported and observer-reported data on these practices was generally low, underscoring the challenges in measuring these behaviors.</p><p dir="ltr">The findings suggest that higher maternal sensitivity could potentially lower the frequency of using food as a soothing method at 12 months. Future research should aim to confirm these findings in more diverse populations and through less structured observational settings.</p>

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Esta tese se compõe de três ensaios que conjuntamente pretendem explorar o papel da família no desenvolvimento humano, destacando especialmente sua função de cuidado na primeira infância e sua influência na formação das habilidades cognitivas e socioemocionais. A hipótese geral parte da premissa que a família é o espaço social com maior influência no desenvolvimento infantil e que determina inclusive os efeitos que outros espaços de educação e cuidado como a creche podem ter nos resultados das crianças. A família representa uma rede de cuidados e afetos, mas também pode constituir um lugar de privações para o bem-estar humano. As características das famílias tanto estruturais como de dinâmicas internas definem os fatores de proteção e os fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento infantil. Nesse sentido, no primeiro ensaio realiza-se uma discussão teórica a partir de abordagens da psicologia e da neurociência sobre como as experiências na família e nos períodos sensíveis da infância determinam resultados das crianças, definindo, por exemplo, o desenvolvimento do cérebro e da personalidade. Nessa linha, apresentam-se as práticas parentais positivas e os estilos parentais participativos como referências para ambientes adequados e de estímulo. O ensaio também analisa o conceito de resiliência e que permite identificar fatores que explicam por que algumas crianças que ainda expostas a ambientes adversos podem atingir boas competências e desempenho. De igual forma, o ensaio discute sobre as habilidades cognitivas e não cognitivas e o papel central das emoções no desenvolvimento humano. No segundo ensaio, avalia-se o desenvolvimento infantil do Chile contemplando diferentes dimensões das crianças, como a cognitiva, socioemocional e motricidade. Considera-se também, ao mesmo tempo, a influência de fatores familiares sobre o nível de desenvolvimento atingido pelas crianças. Para esse objetivo aplica-se o modelo “Multiple Indicator Multiple Causes – MIMIC” que faz parte dos Modelos de Equações Estruturais (SEM). Neste artigo, também se operacionaliza parte da concepção da Abordagem das Capacitações fundamentada por Amartya Sen e Martha Nussbaum ao considerar as oportunidades das crianças atingirem seu desenvolvimento de acordo às condições impostas por suas famílias, seja por suas características estruturais ou socioeconômicas como a renda ou por dinâmicas interna da família associadas ao grau de sensibilidade, práticas de envolvimento parental e exercício de práticas de disciplina. Por fim, no terceiro ensaio avaliam-se os efeitos da creche no desenvolvimento cognitivo e socioemocional das crianças chilenas de 4 a 5 anos, condicionado às características da família, como o status socioeconômico, o grau de sensibilidade materna e as práticas de envolvimento parental. Os resultados mostram que a maior exposição à creche tem maiores benefícios nas habilidades cognitivas de crianças de baixo status socioeconômico do que nas crianças de famílias de maior status. No entanto, há evidências de efeitos negativos da creche sobre os resultados das crianças quando o grau de sensibilidade e envolvimento parental é baixo. Desta forma, este ensaio contribui ao entendimento da importância do engajamento parental para que programas de cuidado à infância como a creche tenham maior sucesso e possam cooperar no desenvolvimento infantil. / This thesis consists of three essays that together aim to explore the role of family in human development, focusing on its care function during the early childhood and its influence on the formation of cognitive and socio-emotional skills. The general hypothesis consists that family is the social space with most influence on child development and it even could determine the effects that other social spaces like the daycare may have on child outcomes. Family is a network of care and affection, but it can also be a place of deprivation for human well-being. The structural characteristics of family as well as internal dynamics define protective and risk factors on child development. In the first essay, a theoretical discussion is done from the approach of psychology and neuroscience, and it explains how experiences in families during sensitive periods in childhood determine child outcomes, defining, for example, brain development and personality. In that sense, positive parenting practices and authoritative parenting style are indicated as references of suitable environments that encourage child development. The essay examines the concept of resilience and through this is possible to identify factors to explain why some children exposed to adverse environments can achieve good performance and skills. Also, the essay discusses about cognitive and non-cognitive skills and the central role of emotions in human development. In the second essay is evaluated the child development in Chile. This analysis includes different dimensions of children, such as cognitive, social-emotional and motor skills and considering at the same time, the influence of family factors on the level of development achieved by the children. For this objective, it is applied the model "Multiple Indicator Multiple Causes - MIMIC" which is part of the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). In this paper also is used the Capability Approach founded by Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum considering the real opportunities of children to achievement their development according the conditions imposed by their families, either by their structural or socioeconomic characteristics such as income or by family internal dynamics associated with the degree of sensitivity, parenting practices and practices of discipline. Finally, the third essay evaluates the effects of daycare on cognitive and socio-emotional development of Chilean children of 4-5 years conditioning to family characteristics, such as socioeconomic status, degree of maternal sensitivity and parental involvement practices. The results showed that more exposure to daycare has more benefits in cognitive skills of children of low socioeconomic status than in children from families of higher status. However, there are evidences of negative effects of daycare on children's outcomes when the degree of sensitivity and parental involvement is low. Thus, this paper contributes understanding the importance of parental involvement for that child care programs like daycare have greater success and these can cooperate in the child development.

Esta tese se compõe de três ensaios que conjuntamente pretendem explorar o papel da família no desenvolvimento humano, destacando especialmente sua função de cuidado na primeira infância e sua influência na formação das habilidades cognitivas e socioemocionais. A hipótese geral parte da premissa que a família é o espaço social com maior influência no desenvolvimento infantil e que determina inclusive os efeitos que outros espaços de educação e cuidado como a creche podem ter nos resultados das crianças. A família representa uma rede de cuidados e afetos, mas também pode constituir um lugar de privações para o bem-estar humano. As características das famílias tanto estruturais como de dinâmicas internas definem os fatores de proteção e os fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento infantil. Nesse sentido, no primeiro ensaio realiza-se uma discussão teórica a partir de abordagens da psicologia e da neurociência sobre como as experiências na família e nos períodos sensíveis da infância determinam resultados das crianças, definindo, por exemplo, o desenvolvimento do cérebro e da personalidade. Nessa linha, apresentam-se as práticas parentais positivas e os estilos parentais participativos como referências para ambientes adequados e de estímulo. O ensaio também analisa o conceito de resiliência e que permite identificar fatores que explicam por que algumas crianças que ainda expostas a ambientes adversos podem atingir boas competências e desempenho. De igual forma, o ensaio discute sobre as habilidades cognitivas e não cognitivas e o papel central das emoções no desenvolvimento humano. No segundo ensaio, avalia-se o desenvolvimento infantil do Chile contemplando diferentes dimensões das crianças, como a cognitiva, socioemocional e motricidade. Considera-se também, ao mesmo tempo, a influência de fatores familiares sobre o nível de desenvolvimento atingido pelas crianças. Para esse objetivo aplica-se o modelo “Multiple Indicator Multiple Causes – MIMIC” que faz parte dos Modelos de Equações Estruturais (SEM). Neste artigo, também se operacionaliza parte da concepção da Abordagem das Capacitações fundamentada por Amartya Sen e Martha Nussbaum ao considerar as oportunidades das crianças atingirem seu desenvolvimento de acordo às condições impostas por suas famílias, seja por suas características estruturais ou socioeconômicas como a renda ou por dinâmicas interna da família associadas ao grau de sensibilidade, práticas de envolvimento parental e exercício de práticas de disciplina. Por fim, no terceiro ensaio avaliam-se os efeitos da creche no desenvolvimento cognitivo e socioemocional das crianças chilenas de 4 a 5 anos, condicionado às características da família, como o status socioeconômico, o grau de sensibilidade materna e as práticas de envolvimento parental. Os resultados mostram que a maior exposição à creche tem maiores benefícios nas habilidades cognitivas de crianças de baixo status socioeconômico do que nas crianças de famílias de maior status. No entanto, há evidências de efeitos negativos da creche sobre os resultados das crianças quando o grau de sensibilidade e envolvimento parental é baixo. Desta forma, este ensaio contribui ao entendimento da importância do engajamento parental para que programas de cuidado à infância como a creche tenham maior sucesso e possam cooperar no desenvolvimento infantil. / This thesis consists of three essays that together aim to explore the role of family in human development, focusing on its care function during the early childhood and its influence on the formation of cognitive and socio-emotional skills. The general hypothesis consists that family is the social space with most influence on child development and it even could determine the effects that other social spaces like the daycare may have on child outcomes. Family is a network of care and affection, but it can also be a place of deprivation for human well-being. The structural characteristics of family as well as internal dynamics define protective and risk factors on child development. In the first essay, a theoretical discussion is done from the approach of psychology and neuroscience, and it explains how experiences in families during sensitive periods in childhood determine child outcomes, defining, for example, brain development and personality. In that sense, positive parenting practices and authoritative parenting style are indicated as references of suitable environments that encourage child development. The essay examines the concept of resilience and through this is possible to identify factors to explain why some children exposed to adverse environments can achieve good performance and skills. Also, the essay discusses about cognitive and non-cognitive skills and the central role of emotions in human development. In the second essay is evaluated the child development in Chile. This analysis includes different dimensions of children, such as cognitive, social-emotional and motor skills and considering at the same time, the influence of family factors on the level of development achieved by the children. For this objective, it is applied the model "Multiple Indicator Multiple Causes - MIMIC" which is part of the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). In this paper also is used the Capability Approach founded by Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum considering the real opportunities of children to achievement their development according the conditions imposed by their families, either by their structural or socioeconomic characteristics such as income or by family internal dynamics associated with the degree of sensitivity, parenting practices and practices of discipline. Finally, the third essay evaluates the effects of daycare on cognitive and socio-emotional development of Chilean children of 4-5 years conditioning to family characteristics, such as socioeconomic status, degree of maternal sensitivity and parental involvement practices. The results showed that more exposure to daycare has more benefits in cognitive skills of children of low socioeconomic status than in children from families of higher status. However, there are evidences of negative effects of daycare on children's outcomes when the degree of sensitivity and parental involvement is low. Thus, this paper contributes understanding the importance of parental involvement for that child care programs like daycare have greater success and these can cooperate in the child development.

Esta tese se compõe de três ensaios que conjuntamente pretendem explorar o papel da família no desenvolvimento humano, destacando especialmente sua função de cuidado na primeira infância e sua influência na formação das habilidades cognitivas e socioemocionais. A hipótese geral parte da premissa que a família é o espaço social com maior influência no desenvolvimento infantil e que determina inclusive os efeitos que outros espaços de educação e cuidado como a creche podem ter nos resultados das crianças. A família representa uma rede de cuidados e afetos, mas também pode constituir um lugar de privações para o bem-estar humano. As características das famílias tanto estruturais como de dinâmicas internas definem os fatores de proteção e os fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento infantil. Nesse sentido, no primeiro ensaio realiza-se uma discussão teórica a partir de abordagens da psicologia e da neurociência sobre como as experiências na família e nos períodos sensíveis da infância determinam resultados das crianças, definindo, por exemplo, o desenvolvimento do cérebro e da personalidade. Nessa linha, apresentam-se as práticas parentais positivas e os estilos parentais participativos como referências para ambientes adequados e de estímulo. O ensaio também analisa o conceito de resiliência e que permite identificar fatores que explicam por que algumas crianças que ainda expostas a ambientes adversos podem atingir boas competências e desempenho. De igual forma, o ensaio discute sobre as habilidades cognitivas e não cognitivas e o papel central das emoções no desenvolvimento humano. No segundo ensaio, avalia-se o desenvolvimento infantil do Chile contemplando diferentes dimensões das crianças, como a cognitiva, socioemocional e motricidade. Considera-se também, ao mesmo tempo, a influência de fatores familiares sobre o nível de desenvolvimento atingido pelas crianças. Para esse objetivo aplica-se o modelo “Multiple Indicator Multiple Causes – MIMIC” que faz parte dos Modelos de Equações Estruturais (SEM). Neste artigo, também se operacionaliza parte da concepção da Abordagem das Capacitações fundamentada por Amartya Sen e Martha Nussbaum ao considerar as oportunidades das crianças atingirem seu desenvolvimento de acordo às condições impostas por suas famílias, seja por suas características estruturais ou socioeconômicas como a renda ou por dinâmicas interna da família associadas ao grau de sensibilidade, práticas de envolvimento parental e exercício de práticas de disciplina. Por fim, no terceiro ensaio avaliam-se os efeitos da creche no desenvolvimento cognitivo e socioemocional das crianças chilenas de 4 a 5 anos, condicionado às características da família, como o status socioeconômico, o grau de sensibilidade materna e as práticas de envolvimento parental. Os resultados mostram que a maior exposição à creche tem maiores benefícios nas habilidades cognitivas de crianças de baixo status socioeconômico do que nas crianças de famílias de maior status. No entanto, há evidências de efeitos negativos da creche sobre os resultados das crianças quando o grau de sensibilidade e envolvimento parental é baixo. Desta forma, este ensaio contribui ao entendimento da importância do engajamento parental para que programas de cuidado à infância como a creche tenham maior sucesso e possam cooperar no desenvolvimento infantil. / This thesis consists of three essays that together aim to explore the role of family in human development, focusing on its care function during the early childhood and its influence on the formation of cognitive and socio-emotional skills. The general hypothesis consists that family is the social space with most influence on child development and it even could determine the effects that other social spaces like the daycare may have on child outcomes. Family is a network of care and affection, but it can also be a place of deprivation for human well-being. The structural characteristics of family as well as internal dynamics define protective and risk factors on child development. In the first essay, a theoretical discussion is done from the approach of psychology and neuroscience, and it explains how experiences in families during sensitive periods in childhood determine child outcomes, defining, for example, brain development and personality. In that sense, positive parenting practices and authoritative parenting style are indicated as references of suitable environments that encourage child development. The essay examines the concept of resilience and through this is possible to identify factors to explain why some children exposed to adverse environments can achieve good performance and skills. Also, the essay discusses about cognitive and non-cognitive skills and the central role of emotions in human development. In the second essay is evaluated the child development in Chile. This analysis includes different dimensions of children, such as cognitive, social-emotional and motor skills and considering at the same time, the influence of family factors on the level of development achieved by the children. For this objective, it is applied the model "Multiple Indicator Multiple Causes - MIMIC" which is part of the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). In this paper also is used the Capability Approach founded by Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum considering the real opportunities of children to achievement their development according the conditions imposed by their families, either by their structural or socioeconomic characteristics such as income or by family internal dynamics associated with the degree of sensitivity, parenting practices and practices of discipline. Finally, the third essay evaluates the effects of daycare on cognitive and socio-emotional development of Chilean children of 4-5 years conditioning to family characteristics, such as socioeconomic status, degree of maternal sensitivity and parental involvement practices. The results showed that more exposure to daycare has more benefits in cognitive skills of children of low socioeconomic status than in children from families of higher status. However, there are evidences of negative effects of daycare on children's outcomes when the degree of sensitivity and parental involvement is low. Thus, this paper contributes understanding the importance of parental involvement for that child care programs like daycare have greater success and these can cooperate in the child development.