Emotional Insecurity and Child Health: Implications and Future Directions

Abstract

This chapter describes the research and clinical implications of Davies, Sturge-Apple, and Martin’s (Chap. 5) emotional security formulation (EST-R) for child health. Research priorities include the following: (1) identify key features of family discord that affect emotional security and child health outcomes, (2) clarify the specific processes by which emotional insecurity affects child health risks and outcomes, (3) clarify the timing and impact of family discord and emotional insecurity on age-specific developmental competencies that affect child health outcomes, (4) identify key and protective factors that influence the impact of family discord on child health, and (5) clarify the implications for preventive interventions that address specific risks associated with emotional insecurity for various child health outcomes. A range of intervention strategies can be targeted to the functional consequences of family discord on the social defense, stress, or behavioral systems.