RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Although there is a large body of literature highlighting the behavioral effects of parenting interventions, studies on the neurocognitive mechanisms involved in such intervention effects remain scarce. PURPOSE: The aim of the current study was to test whether changes in neural face processing (as reflected in N170 amplitudes) would act as a mediator in the association between the Video-feedback Intervention to promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline (VIPP-SD) and maternal sensitivity. METHODS: A total of 66 mothers of whom a random 33% received the VIPP-SD and the others a "dummy" intervention participated in pre- and postintervention assessments. We recorded mothers' electroencephalographic (EEG) activity in response to photographs of children's neutral, happy, and angry facial expressions. Maternal sensitivity was observed while mothers interacted with their offspring in a semi-structured play situation. RESULTS: In contrast with our expectations, we did not find evidence for mediation of intervention effects on maternal sensitivity by the N170. CONCLUSION: We discuss that parenting support programs may yield different effects on neurocognitive processes depending on the population and provide recommendations for future research. Our study underscores the importance of reporting null findings and preregistering studies in the field of neurocognitive research.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

The quality of parenting greatly impacts child development, highlighting the importance of support programs that effectively improve parenting. Studies on successful intervention programs define their efficacy by gains in parenting and/or child development. However, much remains unknown about the internal processes that explain how parenting interventions bring about their effects. The aims of the current randomized-controlled study were to test whether the Video-feedback Intervention to promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline (VIPP-SD) improved maternal inhibitory control (1) and whether inhibitory control mediated any effects of VIPP-SD on maternal sensitive discipline (2). In total, 66 mothers of whom a random 33% received the VIPP-SD and the others a "dummy" intervention participated in pre- and post-intervention assessments. Sensitive discipline was observed during a semi-structured limit-setting situation and inhibitory control was measured using a stop-signal task. Contrary to expectations, inhibitory control improved over time in the control group and sensitive discipline did not show the expected increase in the intervention group. Results did not support mediation. We suggest that the intervention may have induced cognitive restructuring of parenting schemas, delaying improvements in post-intervention inhibitory control and sensitive discipline. Factors that may be involved in parents' susceptibility to interventions require attention in future work.

La calidad de la crianza tiene gran impacto en el desarrollo del niño, lo cual enfatiza la importancia de programas de apoyo que efectivamente mejoran la crianza. Los estudios sobre programas de intervención exitosa definen su efectividad según los logros en la crianza y/o el desarrollo del niño. Sin embargo, aún se desconoce mucho acerca de los procesos internos que explican cómo las intervenciones de crianza producen sus resultados. Las metas del presente estudio controlado al azar fueron examinar si la Intervención de Informe de Video para promover una Crianza Positiva y una Disciplina Sensible (VIPP-SD) mejoraba el control inhibitorio materno (1) y si el control inhibitorio mediaba cualesquiera efectos de VIPP-SD sobre la sensible disciplina materna (2). En total, 66 madres participaron en las evaluaciones anteriores y posteriores a la intervención; de ellas el 33% -escogidas al azar- recibió la VIPP-SD y las demás una intervención "ficticia." Se observó la disciplina sensible durante una situación semiestructurada limitada a un espacio y el control inhibitorio se midió usando una tarea con una señal de detenerse. Contrario a las expectativas, el control inhibitorio mejoró a lo largo del tiempo en el grupo de control y la disciplina sensible no mostró el esperado incremento en el grupo de intervención. Los resultados no apoyaron la mediación. Sugerimos que la intervención pudiera haber generado una restructuración cognitiva de esquemas de crianza, demorando la mejoría en el control inhibitorio y la disciplina sensible en la post intervención. Los factores que pudieran estar relacionados con la susceptibilidad de los progenitores a las intervenciones requieren atención en el trabajo futuro.

La qualité du parentage affecte énormément le développement de l'enfant, mettant en lumière l'importance des programmes de soutien qui améliorent le parentage de manière efficace. Des études sur des programmes d'intervention définissent leur efficacité par les gains dans le parentage et/ou le développement de l'enfant. Cependant il reste beaucoup à apprendre sur les processus internes qui expliquent comment l'impact des interventions de parentage. Les buts de cette étude randomisée contrôlée étaient de tester si l'intervention de rétroaction vidéo destinée à promouvoir un Parentage Positif et la Discipline Sensible (VIPP-SD en anglais) améliorait le contrôle inhibitoire maternel (1) et si le contrôle inhibitoire induisait des effets du VIPP-SD sur la discipline sensible maternelle (2). En tout 66 mères dont 33% au hasard ont reçu le VIPP-SE et les autres une intervention « factice ¼ ont participé à des évaluations pré- et post-intervention. La discipline sensible a été observée durant une situation semi-structurée de réglage de limites et le contrôle inhibitoire a été mesuré en utilisant un exercice de signal d'arrêt. Contrairement aux attentes le contrôle inhibitoire s'est amélioré au fil du temps dans le groupe contrôle et la discipline sensible n'a pas fait preuve de l'augmentation escomptée dans le groupe d'intervention. Les résultats de soutiennent pas la médiation. Nous suggérons que l'intervention pourrait avoir déclenché une restructuration cognitive des schémas de parentage, retardant les améliorations dans le contrôle inhibitoire post-intervention et la discipline sensible. Les facteurs qui peuvent être impliqués dans la susceptibilité des parents aux interventions exigent de l'attention pour le travail à venir.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Parenting interventions have proven to be effective in enhancing positive parenting behavior and child outcomes. However, the neurocognitive mechanisms explaining the efficacy remain largely unknown. We tested effects of the Video-feedback Intervention to promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline (VIPP-SD) on mothers' neural processing of child faces. Our primary focus was on the N170 and the secondary focus on the LPP. We expected the intervention to enhance the amplitudes of both ERP components in response to emotional compared to neutral faces. A total of 66 mothers visited the lab for two identical sessions separated by 4.28 months (SD = 0.86) during which a random 33% of the mothers received the VIPP-SD. During both pre- and post-intervention sessions, mothers' electroencephalographic (EEG) activity in response to photographs of children's neutral, happy and angry facial expressions were acquired. In contrast to our expectations, we found smaller (less negative) N170 amplitudes at post-test in the intervention group. There was no intervention effect on the LPP, although overall LPP amplitudes were more positive for neutral and angry compared to happy faces. Our study shows that the N170 is affected by the VIPP-SD, suggesting that the intervention promotes efficient, less effortful face processing.Trial registration: Dutch Trial Register: NTR5312; Date registered: 3 January 2017.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Temperament has been suggested to be influenced by genetic and environmental factors. The current study examined genetic shared environmental and unique environmental factors accounting for variation in Fear, Effortful Control (EC), and Frontal Asymmetry (FA) in 4- to 6-year-old children using bivariate behavioral genetic modeling. We included a total of 214 same-sex twin pairs: 127 monozygotic (MZ) and 87 dizygotic (DZ) pairs. FA was measured during a rest electroencephalogram (EEG) recording, and Fear and EC were measured using parent report. Results show that differences between twins were best explained by genetic factors (about a quarter of the variance) and unique environmental factors (about three quarters of the variance). However, the cross-trait, within-twin correlations were not significant, implying no overlapping genetic or environmental factors on Fear and EC or on Fear and FA. Future research should try to elucidate the large role of unique environmental factors in explaining variance in these temperament-related traits.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: The Video-feedback Intervention to promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline (VIPP-SD) has proven effective in increasing parental sensitivity. However, the mechanisms involved are largely unknown. In a randomized controlled trial we examine parental neurocognitive factors that may mediate the intervention effects on parenting behavior. Our aims are to (1) examine whether the intervention influences parents' neural processing of children's emotional expressions and the neural precursors of response inhibition and to (2) test whether neural changes mediate intervention effects on parenting behavior. METHODS: We will test 100 mothers of 4-6 year old same-sex twins. A random half of the mothers will receive the VIPP-SD Twins (i.e. VIPP-SD adapted for twin families), consisting of 5 home visits in a 3-months period; the other half will receive a dummy intervention. Neurocognitive measures are acquired approximately 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after the intervention. Mothers' electroencephalographic (EEG) activity is measured while performing a stop signal task and in response to children's facial expressions. To obtain a complementary behavioral measure, mothers also perform an emotion recognition task. Parenting behavior will be assessed during parent-child interactions at pre and post intervention lab visits. DISCUSSION: Our results will shed light on the neurocognitive factors underlying changes in parenting behavior after a parenting support program, which may benefit the development of such programs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Dutch Trial Register: NTR5312 ; Date registered: January 3, 2017.

Asunto(s)