Guide to Navigating this Research Archive
Here you will find research articles published by IDHP researchers that are related to our primary scientific foci: the interconnected mental health of children and their caregivers, the intergenerational impact of stressful experiences on mental and physical health, and interventions and other buffers that support family wellness.
In the right sidebar, you can search this archive by research topic, as well as by research study (you can read about each study on the Current Projects page). Each archive entry has a simple summary, the full scientific abstract, and a link to the full article. Most of the articles in this research archive are available open access (i.e., you can access it without a subscription). If you are trying to access an article and aren't able to see the full version, please email us at [email protected], and we would be happy to assist.
July 20, 2021
Child mental & behavioral health
Childhood adversity
CTRP-Health Study
Intervention effects
Maternal mental health
This study looked at how inflammation in the body might affect how well people respond to a behavioral treatment for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The researchers measured the levels of certain proteins in the blood of mothers and their young children before treatment and found that those with higher levels of inflammation were less likely to improve with the treatment. This suggests that inflammation could be an important factor to consider when treating depression and PTSD.
May 18, 2021
CANDLE Study
Caregiving behaviors
Child mental & behavioral health
Childhood adversity
Maternal mental health
This study looks at how a mother's childhood experiences can affect her child's behavior. The researchers found that mothers who had negative childhood experiences were more likely to have children with internalizing behaviors. The study also looked at how maternal anxiety and parenting behaviors might mediate this relationship. The findings suggest that interventions that support specific parenting behaviors and address maternal anxiety may help reduce internalizing behaviors in children of mothers with adverse childhood experiences.
March 12, 2021
Biomarkers
Child mental & behavioral health
Childhood adversity
MAMAS/SEED Study
SEED Study
This study explored how different physiological systems work together to predict mental health in young children. Researchers identified different profiles of autonomic nervous system (ANS) and hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis functioning at 18 and 36 months of age. One profile which involved persistent heightened baseline ANS and HPA axis activity was associated with child internalizing (anxiety and depression) problems at age 3.
February 1, 2021
Child mental & behavioral health
Intervention effects
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) was revised in 2009 to align with dietary guidelines. This study shows that children of mothers who received the revised food package during pregnancy had improved developmental outcomes in the first 2 years of life. These findings highlight the value of WIC in improving early developmental outcomes among vulnerable children and support the need to implement and expand policies that support the health of marginalized groups.
January 14, 2021
Biomarkers
Child mental & behavioral health
Childhood adversity
This study shows that the development of mental health problems in young children is influenced by both family adversity and physiological factors like cortisol levels and parasympathetic nervous system functioning. These findings emphasize the importance of considering multiple factors in understanding mental health and highlights the importance of family adversity prevention to make a positive impact on children's well-being.
November 1, 2020
CANDLE Study
Caregiving behaviors
Child mental & behavioral health
Protective factors
This study looked at factors that may affect the cognitive development of children, particularly in communities with racial disparities. The researchers identified modifiable factors, such as parental education, maternal reading ability, and positive parent-child interactions, that were associated with better cognitive performance in children. These findings could be used to inform prevention efforts and policy changes to reduce racial disparities in childhood cognitive development.
July 30, 2020
Child mental & behavioral health
Childhood adversity
CTRP-Health Study
This study examined whether trauma exposure, trauma symptoms, and executive functioning are related in childhood. Associations between trauma exposure, trauma-related symptomatology and children’s executive functioning were not detected, suggesting that associations between child maltreatment, neglect, and other traumas and EF-related outcomes may be particularly nuanced. The null findings here highlight the need for consideration of this complexity in future research examining pathways between trauma exposure and cognitive functioning.
June 19, 2020
Child mental & behavioral health
Child physical health
ECHO-wide Study
This review article discusses how various aspects of the family environment, such as socioeconomic status, parenting behaviors, and parental mental health, can affect children's neurodevelopmental outcomes, particularly their mental health. The article also introduces the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program, a new initiative by the National Institutes of Health that aims to advance our understanding of the impact of family environment on children's mental health. The article concludes by highlighting some unresolved questions and controversies in this field, and how ECHO can help address them.
May 1, 2020
Biomarkers
Child mental & behavioral health
This study looked at how kindergarten classrooms affect children's mental health, and whether children's physiological reactivity to stress affects this relationship. Researchers found that classrooms with more child-centered methods helped children with higher physiological reactivity to stress to have fewer externalizing symptoms, while more teacher-dominated methods were associated with increased symptoms. For children with lower physiological reactivity, exposure to more teacher-dominated classroom management practices was associated with lower externalizing symptoms. Understanding children's individual physiological differences can help teachers create environments that promote good mental health.
February 1, 2020
Child mental & behavioral health
Protective factors
This study suggests that positive relationships with teachers and peers can mitigate the negative effects of harsh parenting on children's oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms. Children who were less accepted by their peers and had lower levels of teacher-child closeness showed greater increases in ODD symptoms when exposed to harsh parenting. However, harsh parenting was not associated with symptom change among children with higher levels of peer-nominated acceptance and those who reported closer relationships with teachers. These findings suggest that fostering positive relationships outside the family can be a promising intervention for children exposed to harsh parenting.