Lisa Berlin, Brenda Jones Harden, and Tiffany L. Martoccio published a new article in the Journal of Prevention Science.
Lisa Berlin, Brenda Jones Harden, and Tiffany L. Martoccio published a new article in the Journal of Prevention Science examining how maternal psychological risk influences the effectiveness of attachment-based interventions for families with toddlers. Their randomized controlled trial evaluated the Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC) program, delivered as a supplement to Early Head Start for predominantly low-income Latinx families. The study found that the ABC intervention improved positive, synchronous interactions between mothers and toddlers (dyadic mutuality) and reduced toddler behavior problems, particularly among families where mothers had higher psychological risk. These findings highlight the importance of considering maternal psychological risk when designing and evaluating preventive interventions, as the benefits of attachment-based programs may be especially pronounced for families facing greater psychological challenges.
Harden, B. J., Martoccio, T. L., & Berlin, L. J. (2025). Maternal Psychological Risk Moderates the Impacts of Attachment-Based Intervention on Mother-Toddler Mutuality and Toddler Behavior Problems: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Prevention Science, 26(Suppl 1), 66–77. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-021-01281-0