Research and Practice in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (eBook)

After working for over 25 years developing programs for children with special needs, consulting in the field of early childhood mental health in hospitals and government agencies, I now devote my time to clinical research at the Hebrew University. My research interests include developmental psychopathology, outcome measures and developmental trajectories for children at risk and the interplay between child, family and environmental variables affecting these trajectories, specifically in autism spectrum disorders.

Preface 6
Contents 10
Chapter 1: Conceptualization of the Field of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health 15
Introduction 15
History 16
Beginning Steps 16
Formulation of Core Concepts 17
Attachment Becomes One of the Central Constructs 18
Mindfulness and Reflective Thinking 20
Defining Infant Mental Health 21
Defining Organizations in Europe and the United States 22
The Role of Emotions in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health 22
Early Mental Health and Later Development 23
Theoretical Models of Infant Mental Health 24
Normative Theories of Development and Infant Mental Health 25
The Effect of the Quality of Early Experiences 25
Development in the Earliest Years 26
Developmental Change 27
Implications of Early Development for Later Development 28
The Developing Sense of Self 29
References 30
Chapter 2: Social and Emotional Development in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health 37
Introduction 37
Conceptualizing Early Development 38
Brain and Behavior in Early Development 40
Cognitive Development 40
Developmental Tasks: Reciprocal Connections 42
Developmental Context of Social and Emotional Functioning in the Early Years 43
Bonding 43
Research Paradigms 44
Individual Differences in Emotional Development 45
Temperament 45
Developmental Stages and Social and Emotional Growth 48
The Underpinnings of Theory of Mind 49
Foundation for the Concern for Others 50
Issues of Concern 51
References 52
Chapter 3: Social and Cultural Contexts in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health 57
Introduction 57
Understanding Social Behavior in the Early Years 58
Conducting Research into Socialization of Young Children 59
Changes at the End of the First Year in Gaze Behavior 61
Infant Socialization in the Home Culture 62
Implicit and Explicit Socialization 63
Parenting 65
Parental Awareness 65
Parenting Styles 66
Research Methodology in Cross-Cultural Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health 68
Research Strategies and Instruments 68
The Culturally Determined ``Ideal Child´´ 69
Cultural Differences in Childrearing 70
Cultural Differences in Attachment Behavior 72
Risk Factors Perceived Through a Cultural Lens 74
References 75
Chapter 4: The Nature-Versus-Nurture Controversy and Its Implications for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health 80
Introduction 80
History of the Nature Versus Nurture Controversy 81
Individual Differences in Infancy and Early Childhood and Behavioral Genetics 82
Research Methods for Studying Behavioral Genetics 83
Findings from Behavioral Genetics Research 84
Intervention Strategies Based on Behavioral Genetics 85
Gene-Environment Interplay 85
General Models of the Nature-Nurture Controversy 88
References 89
Chapter 5: Risk Factors in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health 93
Introduction 93
The Conceptualization of Risk 94
Identifying Risk Factors 96
Longitudinal Research 96
Changes in Familiar Situations as a Risk Factor 97
Parental Characteristics and Risk 98
Research Methodologies for Studying Risk 99
Employing Statistical Models to Explain Risk 101
Environmental Risk Factors in Infancy: Poverty 102
Parental Risk Factors: Depression 105
Child Risk Factors: Prematurity 106
Risk Factors for Early Infant and Child Mental Health in Developing Countries 108
References 109
Chapter 6: The Relational Context of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health 113
Relationships as a Bridge Between Theory and Intervention 113
The Relational Imperative in Infant Mental Health 114
Zero-to-Three Diagnostic System 115
Emotional Availability 117
Parenting Across Cultures 120
Attachment 123
Interrelational Context 124
Child Characteristics in the Relational Context 124
Jealousy 124
Social Cognition in Infants 126
Attunement 129
References 130
Chapter 7: Resilience in Children and Families 136
Introduction 136
Resilience Models 137
Risk and Resilience in a Relational Context 139
Family and Community Resilience 140
Research in Resilience 142
Longitudinal Resilience Research Designs 143
Longitudinal Resilience Research Statistics 144
Longitudinal Resilience Research Models 146
Applications of Resilience Research 148
Implications for Intervention 149
References 151
Chapter 8: Theoretical Bases of Intervention in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health 156
Introduction 156
Psychodynamic Theory 157
Attachment-Based Theory 159
Developmental Theories of Infant Mental Health 161
Sameroff: Transactional Model 161
Greenspan: Developmental, Individual-Differences, Relationship-Based Model (DIR) 163
Bagnato: Convergent Model 164
Als: Synactive Theory of Development 164
Ayres: Sensory Integration Theory of Development 165
Brazelton: TouchpointsModel 166
Guralnick: Multidisciplinary Collaborative Team WorkModel 167
References 167
Chapter 9: A Survey of Evidence-Based Interventions in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health 170
Introduction 170
Research Methodology and Designs Which Assess Intervention Effectiveness 172
Evidence-Based Practice 173
Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP: Lieberman and Van Horn) 175
Incredible Years (IY: Webster-Stratton, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006) 178
Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT: Eyberg) 181
Interaction Guidance (IG: Susan C. McDonough, 2000, 2004) 182
Home Visiting Intervention 185
References 186
Chapter 10: Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation 191
Introduction 191
Issues to be Considered in Mental Health Consultation in Early Childhood 192
The Consultative Model and Its Principles 194
The Consultation Setting 196
The Adult Client 197
The Consultant 198
The Consultative Relationship 200
Consultative Skills 202
Reflective Practice 202
Problem-Solving 203
Capacity Building 205
Research Findings 206
Challenges in Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation 208
References 209
Chapter 11: Applications of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Research in Policy and Practice 212
Introduction 212
Policy Agenda: Promoting Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health 213
Policy Agenda: Creating Mental Health Informed Systems 214
Support Programs for Families at Risk 216
Incorporating Mental Health Perspectives in Policy Decisions 218
Policy Agenda: Establishing Prevention Programs 219
Policy Agenda: Training Professionals 221
Policy Agenda: Incorporating Diversity-Informed Tenets 222
Conclusions and Recommendations for Policymakers, Researchers and Practitioners 223
References 225
Index 228