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.
October 4, 2024
CANDLE Study
Caregiving behaviors
Child mental & behavioral health
This study shows that children's behavior problems and parenting practices are related to each other in a back-and-forth manner over development, starting as early as age 1! Sensitive and responsive parenting early on reduces child behavior problems later but, simultaneously, higher levels of early childhood behavior problems are related to reduced parenting quality later. These findings in a large socioeconomically diverse sample highlight the need for early screening and support for families to promote responsive parenting and address child behavior challenges early, in order to help prevent more serious problems in the future. In particular, the research emphasizes the potentially high-value of policies that make dyadic (parent-child) therapy more accessible for all families.
July 5, 2023
CANDLE Study
Child physical health
Childhood adversity
Stress during pregnancy
This study investigated how women's exposure to different types of violence during childhood and pregnancy can affect their children's body mass index (BMI) over time. Findings showed that children whose mothers experienced more intimate partner violence during pregnancy, or lived in higher crime neighborhoods, were more likely to have a high-rising trajectory of BMI from birth to 8 years old. The results emphasize the intergenerational transmission of social adversity and its impact on children's physical health.
May 7, 2022
CANDLE Study
Child mental & behavioral health
Childhood adversity
Maternal mental health
This study looked at how women's exposure to childhood trauma impacts their own mental health and their child's adaptive behaviors (ability to perform developmentally appropriate activities completely and independently). The study found that mothers with higher levels of mental health problems during and after pregnancy were more likely to have children with lower levels of adaptive functioning at 12 and 24 months old, and experiencing childhood trauma increased mothers' risk for mental health problems.
April 25, 2022
CANDLE Study
Caregiving behaviors
Child mental & behavioral health
Protective factors
Stress during pregnancy
This study looked at the effects of stress and violence experienced by pregnant women on their children's mental health. The researchers found that women's exposure to stress and violence during pregnancy was linked to problems with child mental health and executive functioning. Importantly, the study also found that high-quality parenting behaviors (higher sensitivity, supportiveness, scaffolding) could protect against these negative effects. The results suggest that supporting women's mental health during pregnancy and supporting their capacity for sensitive parenting could improve the wellbeing of both mothers and their children.
April 13, 2022
CANDLE Study
Child mental & behavioral health
Childhood adversity
Maternal mental health
This study examined how childhood trauma experienced by mothers can affect their own mental health and the mental health of their children. The researchers found that mothers who experienced childhood trauma had higher levels of depressive symptoms during pregnancy and after childbirth, and this was associated with their children's internalizing problems between 36 and 48-60 months of age. These findings highlight the importance of recognizing the impact of maternal childhood trauma and addressing its effects to protect both caregivers and their children.
October 20, 2021
CANDLE Study
Child mental & behavioral health
Childhood adversity
Protective factors
Stress during pregnancy
This study looked at how a mother's childhood trauma and stress during pregnancy affects her child's behavior at age 1. The study found that multiple types of maternal stress were associated with socioemotional-behavioral problems in children at age one. Importantly, findings also showed that maternal knowledge about child development can help protect against the negative effects of stress. This suggests that screening and early intervention for parents could help promote positive behavioral health in children.
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.
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.
October 17, 2020
Biomarkers
CANDLE Study
Childhood adversity
Stress during pregnancy
This study looked at the effects of childhood trauma on pregnant people's placental Corticotrophin-Releasing Hormone (pCRH) levels, which can impact the health of both the mother and child. Researchers found that exposure to childhood abuse or violence predicted higher levels of pCRH later in pregnancy, but stressors during adulthood nor pregnancy did not affect pCRH. The study highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing childhood trauma in pregnant people to promote better health outcomes for them and their children.