Evidence-based intervention for young children born premature: preliminary evidence for associated changes in physiological regulation.
The current study examined whether changes in maternal behaviors following an evidence-based treatment-Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)-was associated with improvements in cardiac vagal regulation in young children born premature. Participants included 28 young children (mean age = 37.79 months) that were born premature and presented with elevated externalizing behavior problems. To assess cardiac vagal regulation, resting measures of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and RSA change (withdrawal or suppression) to a clean-up task were derived pre and post-treatment. Results indicated that an increase in behaviors mothers are taught to use during treatment (i.e., do skills-praise, reflection, and behavioral descriptions) was associated with an improvement in children's post-treatment RSA suppression levels. The current study illustrates the important role of caregiver behavior in promoting physiological regulation in children born premature.
Center for Children and Families, Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, United States. pgrazian@fiu.edu
Paulo A
PA
Graziano
Daniel M
DM
Bagner
Stephen J
SJ
Sheinkopf
Betty R
BR
Vohr
Barry M
BM
Lester
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D056152:Respiratory Rate / Q000502:physiology; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology