title: Effects of attachment-based interventions on maternal sensitivity and infant attachment: differential susceptibility of highly reactive infants.
abstract: The current intervention study aimed at breaking the potential intergenerational cycle of insecure attachment. The authors randomly assigned 81 first-time mothers to one of two intervention groups or a control group. The interventions involved four home visits when the infants were between 7 and 10 months old. The first intervention, VIPP, consisted of video-feedback and brochures to enhance sensitive parenting. The second intervention, VIPP-R, involved additional discussions of mothers' childhood attachment experiences in relation to their current caregiving. After the intervention, intervention mothers were more sensitive than control mothers. The interventions were most effective for highly reactive children and their mothers, providing experimental support for Belsky's (1997) hypothesis of highly reactive versus less reactive children's evolutionary based differential susceptibility to rearing influences.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Child & Family Studies, Leiden University.
authors.forename: Mariska
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klein Velderman
authors.affiliation: Centre for Child & Family Studies, Leiden University.
authors.forename: Marian J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bakermans-Kranenburg
authors.affiliation: Centre for Child & Family Studies, Leiden University.
authors.forename: Femmie
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Juffer
authors.affiliation: Centre for Child & Family Studies, Leiden University.
authors.forename: Marinus H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: van IJzendoorn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009769:Object Attachment; D019962:Reactive Attachment Disorder / Q000523:psychology*