Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-b95js Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-13T14:04:55.680Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A transactional approach to preventing early childhood neglect: The Family Check-Up as a public health strategy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 November 2015

Thomas J. Dishion ,
Chung Jung Mun ,
Emily C. Drake ,
Jenn-Yun Tein ,
Daniel S. Shaw  and
Melvin Wilson
Thomas J. Dishion*
Affiliation:
Arizona State University Oregon Research Institute
Chung Jung Mun
Affiliation:
Arizona State University
Emily C. Drake
Affiliation:
Arizona State University
Jenn-Yun Tein
Affiliation:
Arizona State University
Daniel S. Shaw
Affiliation:
University of Pittsburgh
Melvin Wilson
Affiliation:
University of Virginia
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Thomas J. Dishion, Department of Psychology and REACH Institute, Arizona State University, 900 South McAllister Road, Tempe, AZ 85287; E-mail: dishion@asu.edu.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This study examined the hypothesis that a brief, strengths-based home visiting strategy can promote positive engagement between caregiver and child and thereby reduce various forms of early childhood neglect. A total of 731 low-income families receiving services through the Women, Infants, and Children nutritional supplement program were randomized to the Women, Infants, and Children as usual or the Family Check-Up intervention. Assessments and intervention services were delivered in the home environment at ages 2, 3, 4, and 5. During the assessments, staff videotaped caregiver–child interactions and rated various features of the home environment, including the physical appropriateness of the home setting for children. Trained observers later coded the videotapes, unaware of the family's intervention condition. Specific caregiver–child interaction patterns were coded and macroratings were made of the caregiver's affection, monitoring, and involvement with the child. An intention to treat design revealed that randomization to the Family Check-Up increased duration of positive engagement between caregivers and children by age 3, which in turn was prognostic of less neglect of the child at age 4, controlling for family adversity. It was also found that family adversity moderated the impact of the intervention, such that the families with the most adverse circumstances were highly responsive to the intervention. Families with the highest levels of adversity exhibited the strongest mediation between positive engagement and reduction of neglect. Findings are discussed with respect to developmental theory and their potential implications for a public health approach to the prevention of early childhood maltreatment.

Type
Regular Articles
Information
Development and Psychopathology , Volume 27 , Special Issue 4pt2: Multilevel Developmental Perspectives on Child Maltreatment , November 2015 , pp. 1647 - 1660
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aiken, L. S., & West, S. G. (1991). Multiple regression: Testing and interpreting interactions. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Arbuckle, J. L. (1996). Full information estimation in the presence of incomplete data. In Marcoulides, G. A. & Schumacker, R. E. (Eds.), Advanced structural equation modeling: Issues and techniques. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Asok, A., Bernark, K., Roth, T. L., Rosen, J. B., & Dozier, M. (2013). Parental responsiveness moderates the association between early-life stress and reduced telomere length. Developmental Psychopathology, 25, 577–585.Google Scholar
Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J., van IJzendoorn, M. H., & Juffer, F. (2003). Less is more: Meta-analyses of sensitivity and attachment interventions in early childhood. Psychological Bulletin, 129, 195–215.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Belsky, J. (1993). Etiology of child maltreatment: A developmental-ecological analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 114, 413–434.Google Scholar
Biglan, A. (2015). The nurture effect: How the science of human behavior can improve our lives and our world. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.Google Scholar
Brennan, L. M., Shelleby, E., Shaw, D. S., Dishion, T. J., Gardner, F., & Wilson, M. N. (2013). Improvements in early positive parenting linked to children's school-age achievement. Journal of Educational Psychology, 105, 762–773.Google Scholar
Bugental, D. B. (1989). Perceived control over caregiving outcomes: Implications for child abuse. Developmental Psychology, 25, 532–539.Google Scholar
Bugental, D. B., Ellerson, P. C., Lin, E. K., Rainey, B., Kokotovic, A., & O'Hara, N. (2002). A cognitive approach to child abuse prevention. Journal of Family Psychology, 16, 243–258.Google Scholar
Caldwell, B. M., & Bradley, R. H. (2003). Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment: Administration manual. Tempe, AZ: Arizona Sate University, Family & Human Dynamics Research Institute.Google Scholar
Caspi, A., McClay, J., Moffitt, T., Mill, J., Craig, I. W., Taylor, A., et al. (2002). Role of genotype in the cycle of violence in maltreated children. Science, 298, 851–854.Google Scholar
Chamberlain, P., Price, J., Leve, L. D., Laurent, H., Landsverk, J. A., & Reid, J. B. (2008). Prevention of behavior problems for children in foster care: Outcomes and mediation effects. Prevention Science, 9, 17–27.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cicchetti, D. (1990). Perspectives on the interface between normal and atypical development. Development and Psychopathology, 2, 329–333.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cicchetti, D., & Lynch, M. (1993). Toward an ecological-transactional model of community violence and child maltreatment: Consequences for children's development. Psychiatry: Interpersonal and Biological Processes, 56, 96–118.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cohen, J. A., Mannarino, A. P., Murray, L. K., & Igelman, R. (2006). Psychosocial interventions for maltreated and violence-exposed children. Journal of Social Issues, 62, 737–766.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cook, R. D. (1977). Detection of influential observation in linear regression. Technometrics, 19, 15–18.Google Scholar
Crowell, S. E., Beauchaine, T. P., McCauley, E., Smith, C., Vasilev, C., & Stevens, A. L. (2008). Parent-child interactions, peripheral serotonin, and intentional self-injury in adolescents. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 76, 15–21.Google Scholar
Dishion, T. J. (in press). An evolutionary framework for understanding coercion and aggression. In Dishion, T. J. & Snyder, J. (Eds.), Oxford handbook of coercive relationship dynamics: Basic mechanisms, developmental processes, and intervention applications. New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Dishion, T. J., Brennan, L. M., Shaw, D. S., McEachern, A. D., Wilson, M. N., & Jo, B. (2014). Prevention of problem behavior through annual family check-ups in early childhood: Intervention effects from the home to early elementary school. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 42, 343–354.Google Scholar
Dishion, T. J., Forgatch, M. S., Van Ryzin, M. J., & Winter, C. (2012). The nonlinear dynamics of family problem solving in adolescence: The predictive validity of a peaceful resolution attractor. Nonlinear Dynamics, Psychology, and Life Sciences, 16, 331–352.Google ScholarPubMed
Dishion, T. J., Ha, T., & Véronneau, M.-H. (2012). An ecological analysis of the effects of deviant peer clustering on sexual promiscuity, problem behavior, and childbearing from early adolescence to adulthood: An enhancement of the life history framework. Developmental Psychology, 48, 703–717.Google Scholar
Dishion, T. J., Hogansen, J., Winter, C., & Jabson, J. M. (2004). The Coder Impressions Inventory. Unpublished manuscript. University of Oregon, Child and Family Center.Google Scholar
Dishion, T. J., & Kavanagh, K. (2003). Intervening with adolescent problem behavior: A family-centered approach. New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Dishion, T. J., Knutson, N., Brauer, L., Gill, A., & Risso, J. (2010). Family Check-Up: COACH ratings manual. Unpublished manuscript. University of Oregon, Prevention Science Institute.Google Scholar
Dishion, T. J., Shaw, D. S., Connell, A., Gardner, F. E. M., Weaver, C., & Wilson, M. (2008). The Family Check-Up with high-risk indigent families: Preventing problem behavior by increasing parents’ positive behavior support in early childhood. Child Development, 79, 1395–1414.Google Scholar
Dishion, T. J., & Stormshak, E. A. (2007). Intervening in children's lives: An ecological, family-centered approach to mental health care. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.Google Scholar
Dishion, T. J., Stormshak, E. A., & Kavanagh, K. (2011). Everyday parenting: A therapist's guide for supporting family management practices. Champaign, IL: Research Press.Google Scholar
Dozier, M., Manni, M., Gordon, M. K., Peloso, E., Gunnar, M. R., Stovall-McClough, K. C., et al. (2006). Foster children's diurnal production of cortisol: An exploratory study. Child Maltreatment, 11, 189–197.Google Scholar
Dubowitz, H. (2013). Neglect in children. Pediatric Annals, 42, 73–77.Google Scholar
Eisinga, R., te Grotenhuis, M., & Pelzer, B. (2013). The reliability of a two-item scale: Pearson, Cronbach, or Spearman-Brown? International Journal of Public Health, 58, 637–642.Google Scholar
Enders, C. (2010). Applied missing data analysis. New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Fergusson, D. M., Boden, J. M., & Horwood, L. J. (2008). Exposure to childhood sexual and physical abuse and adjustment in early adulthood. Child Abuse & Neglect, 32, 607–619.Google Scholar
Figueredo, A. J., Vásquez, G., Brumbach, B. H., & Schneider, S. M. R. (2004). The heritability of life history strategy: The K-factor, covitality, and personality. Social Biology, 51, 121–143.Google ScholarPubMed
Fisher, P. A., Burraston, B., & Pears, K. (2005). The Early Intervention Foster Care Program: Permanent placement outcomes from a randomized trial. Child Maltreatment, 10, 61–71.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fisher, P. A., Stoolmiller, M., Gunnar, M. R., & Burraston, B. (2007). Effects of a therapeutic intervention for foster preschoolers on diurnal cortisol activity. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 32, 892–905.Google Scholar
Forgatch, M. S., & Patterson, G. R. (2010). Parent management training—Oregon model: An intervention for antisocial behavior in children and adolescents. In Weisz, J. R. & Kazdin, A. E. (Eds.), Evidence-based psychotherapies for children and adolescents (pp. 159–178). New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Frankenhuis, W. E., & de Weerth, C. (2013). Does early-life exposure to stress shape or impair cognition? Current Directions in Psychological Science, 22, 407–412.Google Scholar
Giuliano, R. J., Skowron, E. A., & Berkman, E. T. (2015). Growth models of dyadic synchrony and mother-child vagal tone in the context of parenting at-risk. Biological Psychology, 105, 29–36.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Granic, I., & Hollenstein, T. (2003). Dynamic systems methods for developmental psychopathology. Developmental Psychopathology, 15, 641–669.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hollenstein, T. (2007). State space grids: Analyzing dynamics across development. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 31, 384–396.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kellam, S. G., & Van Horn, Y. V. (1997). Life course development, community epidemology, and preventive trials: A scientific structure for prevention research. American Journal of Community Psychology, 25, 177–188.Google Scholar
Knerr, W., Gardner, F., & Cluver, L. (2013). Improving positive parenting skills and reducing harsh and abusive parenting in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review. Prevention Science, 14, 352–363.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Knutson, J. F. (1995). Psychological characteristics of maltreated children: Putative risk factors and consequences. Annual Review of Psychology, 46, 401–431.Google Scholar
Knutson, J. F., & Mehm, J. G. (1988). Transgenerational patterns of coercion in families and intimate relationships. In Russell, G. W. (Ed.), Violence in intimate relationships (pp. 67–90). Great Neck, NY: PMA.Google Scholar
Lucyshyn, J. M., Dunlap, G., & Albin, R. W. (2002). Families and positive behavior support: Addressing problem behavior in family contexts. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes.Google Scholar
Lunkenheimer, E. S., Dishion, T. J., Shaw, D. S., Connell, A. M., Gardner, F., Wilson, M. N., et al. (2008). Collateral benefits of the Family Check-Up on early childhood school readiness: Indirect effects of parents’ positive behavior support. Developmental Psychopathology, 44, 1737–1752.Google ScholarPubMed
MacKinnon, D. P., & Fairchild, A. J. (2009). Current directions in mediation analysis. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 18, 16–20.Google Scholar
Moss, E., DuBois-Comtois, K., Cyr, C., Tarabuls, G. M., St.-Laurent, D., & Bernier, A. (2011). Efficacy of a home-visiting intervention aimed at improving maternal sensitivity, child attachment, and behavioral outcomes for maltreated children: A randomized control trial. Developmental Psychopathology, 23, 195–210.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O. (2012). Mplus (Version 7.1) . Los Angeles: Author.Google Scholar
Noldus Information Technology. (2012). The Observer XT reference manual 11.0. Wageningen, Netherlands: Author.Google Scholar
Odgers, C. L., Moffitt, T. E., Broadbent, J. M., Dickson, N., Hancox, R. J., Harrington, H., et al. (2008). Female and male antisocial trajectories: From childhood origins to adult outcomes. Development and Psychopathology, 20, 673–716.Google Scholar
Olds, D. L., Eckenrode, J., Henderson, C. R. Jr., Kitzman, H., Powers, J., Cole, R., et al. (1997). Long-term effects of home visitation on maternal life course and child abuse and neglect. Journal of the American Medical Association, 278, 637–643.Google Scholar
Olds, D. L., Hill, P., Robinson, J., Song, N., & Little, C. (2000). Update on home visiting for pregnant women and parents of young children. Current Problems in Pediatrics, 30, 110–114.Google Scholar
Pears, K. C., & Fisher, P. A. (2005). Emotion understanding and theory of mind among maltreated children in foster-care: Evidence of deficits. Development and Psychopathology, 17, 47–65.Google Scholar
Peterson, J., Winter, C., Jabson, J. M., & Dishion, T. J. (2008). Relationship Affect Coding System. Unpublished manuscript. University of Oregon, Prevention Science Institute.Google Scholar
Price, J. M., & Landsverk, J. (1998). Social information-processing patterns as predictors of social adaptation and behavior problems among maltreated children in foster care. Child Abuse and Neglect, 22, 845–858.Google Scholar
Prinz, R. J., Sanders, M. R., Shapiro, C. J., Whitaker, D. J., & Lutzker, J. R. (2009). Population-based prevention of child maltreatment: The U.S. Triple P system population trial. Prevention Science, 10, 1–12.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Radloff, L. S. (1977). The CES-D Scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385–401.Google Scholar
Reid, J. B., & Kavanagh, K. (1985). A social interactional approach to child abuse: Risk, prevention, and treatment. New York: Hemisphere/McGraw–Hill.Google Scholar
Rutter, M. (1983). Stress, coping and development: Some issues and questions. In Garmezy, N. & Rutter, M. (Eds.), Stress, coping and development in children (pp. 1–41). New York: McGraw–Hill.Google Scholar
Sameroff, A. J., & Fiese, B. H. (1987). Conceptual issues in prevention. Unpublished manuscript.Google Scholar
Sanders, M. R. (1999). Triple P-Positive Parenting Program: Towards an empirically validated multilevel parenting and family support strategy for the prevention of behavior and emotional problems in children. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 2, 71–90.Google Scholar
Shaw, D. S., Connell, A. M., Dishion, T. J., Wilson, M. N., & Gardner, F. (2009). Improvements in maternal depression as a mediator of intervention effects on early childhood problem behavior. Development and Psychopathology, 21, 417–439.Google Scholar
Shaw, D. S., Dishion, T. J., Supplee, L., Gardner, F., & Arnds, K. (2006). Randomized trial of a family-centered approach to the prevention of early conduct problems: 2-year effects of the Family Check-Up in early childhood. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74, 1–9.Google Scholar
Sitnick, S. L., Shaw, D. S., Gill, A., Dishion, T., Winter, C., Waller, R., et al. (2014). Parenting and the Family Check-Up: Changes in observed parent-child interaction following early childhood intervention. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. Advance online publication.Google Scholar
Skowron, E. A., & Reinemann, D. H. S. (2005). Psychological interventions for child maltreatment: A meta-analysis. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, and Training, 42, 52–71.Google Scholar
Smith, J. D., Dishion, T. J., Shaw, D. S., Wilson, M. N., Winter, C. C., & Patterson, G. R. (2014). Coercive family process and early-onset conduct problems from age 2 to school entry. Development and Psychopathology, 26, 917–932.Google Scholar
Sugai, G., & Horner, R. H. (2002). Introduction to the special series on positive behavior support in schools. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 10, 130–135.Google Scholar
Taylor, A. B., MacKinnon, D. P., & Tein, J. Y. (2008). Tests of the three-path mediated effect. Organizational Research Methods, 11, 241–269.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tein, J., Sandler, I. N., MacKinnon, D. P., & Wolchik, S. A. (2004). How did it work? Who did it work for? Mediation in the context of a moderated prevention effect for children of divorce. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72, 617–624.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thomas, R., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2011). Accumulating evidence for parent-child interaction therapy in the prevention of child maltreatment. Child Development, 82, 177–192.Google Scholar
Tremblay, G. C., & Peterson, L. (1999). Prevention of childhood injury: Clinical and public policy challenges. Clinical Psychology Review, 19, 415–434.Google Scholar
Wahler, R. G. (1980). The insular mother: Her problems in parent-child treatment. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 13, 207–219.Google Scholar
Webster-Stratton, C., & Reid, M. J. (2010). The Incredible Years Parents, Teachers, and Children Training Series: A multifacted treatment approach for children with conduct problems. In Weisz, J. R. & Kazdin, A. E. (Eds.), Evidence-based psychotherapies for children and adolescents (pp. 194–210). New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
West, S. G., Finch, J. F., & Curran, P. J. (1995). Structural equation models with non-normal variables: Problems and remedies. In Hoyle, R. (Ed.), Structural equation modeling: Concepts, issues, and applications (pp. 56–75). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Widom, C. S. (1989). The cycle of violence. Science, 244, 160–166.Google Scholar
Zisser, A., & Eyberg, S. M. (2010). Parent-child interaction therapy and the treatment of disruptive behaviors. In Weisz, J. R. & Kazdin, A. E. (Eds.), Evidence-based psychotherapies for children and adolescents (pp. 179–193). New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar