NCT02121496

Social Circumstances, Parenting Techniques, and Infant Development

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: New York State Psychiatric Institute · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years – 45 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

1. Investigators aim to assess a novel behavioral intervention (currently approved in Protocol #6285) behavioral intervention that promotes maternally-mediated behavioral changes in young infants to reduce the risk of postpartum depression in a group of low income women. More specifically, investigators aim to determine if a behavioral intervention targeting maternal caregiving of young infants can increase infant sleep and reduce fuss/cry behavior and thereby: (1) reduce the incidence and/or severity of postpartum maternal depression in low socioeconomic status (SES) women, and (2) improve the quality of mother-infant interaction and subsequent child development. Investigators will study: 1. The feasibility of applying this protocol with a low SES population 2. The effectiveness of the intervention compared to usual care 3. If the effects of the intervention can be detected in assessments of the quality of mother-infant interaction and infant neurocognitive development 2. Investigators aim to determine whether this behavioral intervention can affect infant development as measured by neurodevelopmental assessments and cortisol reactivity at 4 months of age.

Detailed description

Developmental research consistently shows that postpartum depression has a negative impact on cognitive and emotional development during infancy and childhood. Low SES women face unique stressors and social challenges. Rates of postpartum depression are significantly higher in this group (23-33%) than in the general population (10-15%). The purpose of this study is to understand how social circumstances, women's mood, and parenting techniques affect infant and child development. Specifically, investigators are interested in finding out whether a behavioral intervention, already being administered in IRB approved protocol #6285, targeting maternal caregiving of young infants can increase infant sleep and reduce fuss/cry behavior, thereby reducing the incidence and/or severity of maternal depression and anxiety symptoms, improving the quality of the mother-infant interaction, and improving infant developmental outcomes. By collecting stress reports from women from low SES backgrounds during pregnancy and the postpartum period and by conducting follow-up observational assessments of the quality of mother-infant interaction, infant learning, infant cortisol reactivity, and infant neurocognitive development, investigators hope to identify whether this intervention can effectively meet these aims.

Conditions

• Postpartum Depression
• Infant Development
• Rhythm; Sleep

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Resources for Postpartum Parenting	The intervention includes four-sessions that targets maternal caregiving of young infants to increase infant sleep and reduce fuss/cry behavior and thereby simultaneously consolidate women's enjoyment of and confidence in their maternal role, this, in turn, promotes a cycle of a mutually re- warding engagement in the mother-infant dyad - the antithesis of a 'toxic' experience, and a strong foundation for improving the chances of a successful psychosocial adjustment, including adequate employment. Investigators believe PREPP holds tremendous promise as an intervention to fill the science-practice gap in the promotion of an optimal emotional environment for the developing infant, particularly for women and children living in poverty and/or facing significant psychosocial hardship.

Timeline

• Start date: 2014-03-01
• Primary completion: 2019-12-01
• Completion: 2019-12-01
• First posted: 2014-04-23
• Last updated: 2020-01-28

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States