Research

IDHP Research Summaries

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. 

 

 

November 30, 2020
Intervention effects
MAMAS/SEED Study
Maternal mental health

Maternal depressive symptoms and infant healthcare utilization: The moderating role of prenatal mindfulness

This study looked at the effects of participating in a wellness group called Mindful Moms Training during pregnancy on healthcare utilization for infants. The study found that for mothers with moderate depressive symptoms, those who participated in the wellness group had significantly fewer healthcare visits for their infants compared to those who did not participate in the group (15 average visits vs. 9 average visits). 
November 17, 2020
Biomarkers
Child physical health
MAMAS/SEED Study
SEED Study

Infant weight-for-length gain associated with autonomic nervous system reactivity

This study investigated the relationship between early weight gain in infants and the development of their autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation. The results showed that greater than average weight-for-length gain during the first 6 months of life was associated with ANS dysregulation at 6 months. These findings suggest that early adiposity gain is a risk factor for ANS dysregulation, which can inform early intervention programs for obesity prevention and promoting self-regulation in infancy.
November 1, 2020
CANDLE Study
Caregiving behaviors
Child mental & behavioral health
Protective factors

Identification of modifiable social and behavioral factors associated with childhood cognitive performance

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.