Abstract
Background: Parenting interventions informed by attachment theory are an increasingly popular choice for clinical services that work with parents of babies and young children. Circle of Security Parenting (COS-P) is one such intervention, which has had extraordinary uptake internationally. Evidence for COS-P is very limited, however; there are few published studies, most with very small samples, and findings are mixed. This paper describes a multi-site evaluation of COS-P, designed to help address this evidence gap.Methods/Design: This is a non-randomized controlled effectiveness study of COS-P in four community child and family health settings. Participants are caregivers of children aged 6 years and under, who present to study sites with parenting challenges in the early parenting period. Participants are recruited through these sites, and allocated to either treatment or waitlist control condition based on their capacity to attend the next available COS-P group. Outcomes (changes in caregiving attitudes and capacities linked to child social and emotional development, and caregiver depression symptoms) are assessed at baseline and post-treatment/waitlist using self-report questionnaires (all participants), and a narrative interview and 5-min parent-child interaction (a sub-sample of participants). Additionally, potential moderators of the intervention (demographic, symptom severity) will be tested.Discussion: This is one of the first controlled evaluations of COS-P, and the first in Australia where COS-P dissemination has been particularly widespread. Results from this study will provide valuable information about the effectiveness of COS-P for caregivers with early parenting challenges, and will increase understanding of what works for whom.
Highlights
Attachment theory [1,2,3] has informed thinking and practice in infant mental health for decades [4]
Parenting interventions informed by attachment theory are an increasingly popular choice for clinical services that work with parents of babies and young children
The primary aim of the current study is to examine the effectiveness of Circle of Security Parenting (COS-P) for caregivers who present to early parenting support services with parenting concerns, often in the context of postnatal depression (PND)
Summary
Attachment theory [1,2,3] has informed thinking and practice in infant mental health for decades [4]. COS-P was developed to facilitate broader implementation and uses stock DVD footage in place of individualized video material to demonstrate important concepts relevant to supporting secure attachment relationships [10]. The centerpiece of both versions is a simple graphic (Figure 1), which captures the core dynamic at the heart of attachment theory regarding the child’s need for both connection and exploration, and the caregiving behaviors that support these needs [11,12,13].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
