title: Randomized Trial ofPromoting First Relationships: Effects on Maltreated Toddlers' Separation Distress and Sleep Regulation after Reunification.
abstract: This study investigates the impact of an attachment focused intervention,Promoting First Relationships(PFR), on sleep problems among toddlers in child welfare recently reunified with their birth parent. Recently reunified parent-toddler dyads (n = 43) were drawn from a larger random control trial. Toddlers (11-36 months) and their parents were assessed in two-hour research home visits at enrollment (baseline), and a 6-month post-intervention follow-up. Measures included parental report of sleep problems and research visitor observation of separation distress (using theToddler Attachment Sort-45). The PFR intervention predicted fewer sleep problems, adjusting for a baseline measure of sleep problems and other covariates. A path model showed evidence of an indirect effect of PFR on sleep problems through declines in separation distress. An attachment focused intervention like PFR that reduces infant separation distress can lead to reductions in sleep problems.
authors.affiliation: Family & Child Nursing, University of Washington.
authors.forename: Monica L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Oxford
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Washington.
authors.forename: Charles B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Arizona State University.
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: Family & Child Nursing, University of Washington.
authors.forename: Jean F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Family & Child Nursing, University of Washington.
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Spieker
keywords: child welfare; clinical trials; home visiting; infant sleep; parent-infant dyads