Supporting insensitive mothers: the Vilnius randomized control trial of video-feedback intervention to promote maternal sensitivity and infant attachment security

Objective   This randomized control trial examined the effects of a short-term, interaction-focused and attachment-based video-feedback intervention (VIPP: video-feedback intervention to promote positive parenting).
Design   VIPP effect on mothers' sensitive responsiveness and infant–mother attachment security was evaluated in a sample ( n  = 54) of low sensitive, non-clinical, middle class Lithuanian mothers.
Methods   Maternal sensitivity was assessed in a free play session with the Ainsworth's sensitivity scale, and attachment security was observed using the Attachment Q sort for home observations.
Results   We found that the intervention mothers indeed significantly improved their sensitive responsiveness through participation in our VIPP. The effect size was large according to Cohen's criteria, d  = 0.78. VIPP enhanced maternal sensitive responsiveness even when maternal age, educational level, depression, daily hassles, efficacy, infant gender, and infant negative and positive affect were controlled for. However, attachment security in the VIPP infants was not enhanced after the intervention, compared with the control infants, and the infants did not seem to be differentially susceptible to the increase in maternal sensitivity dependent on their temperamental reactivity.
Conclusion   We suggest that a relatively brief and low-cost programme can provide effective support for mothers who lack sensitivity in the interactions with their infants.     

0～6月龄高危儿家庭早期干预视频反馈简易评估量表的初步建立

目的 建立高危儿家庭早期干预简易评估量表,通过评估家庭视频来监测0～6月龄高危儿在家中接受早期干预的过程,以提高家庭早期干预水平。方法 通过文献检索建立量表初步框架,应用德尔菲法(Delphi)对全国6个省市的26位专家进行3轮问卷咨询,对咨询结果进行统计分析并修改量表初步框架,最终形成家庭早期干预视频反馈简易评估量表。结果 3轮问卷的专家积极系数均为100%,专家权威系数为0.85,第3轮问卷的专家协调系数为0.445(P＜0.001)。简易评估量表包括视频拍摄质量和早期干预质量两部分,共14个指标。其中视频拍摄质量4个指标,早期干预质量10个指标,早期干预质量分为A区(3个指标)、B区(4个指标)、C区(3个指标)。结论 视频反馈能够将医院优势和家庭优势相结合,通过评估家庭视频来监测高危儿在家庭中接受早期干预的过程,有利于专业人员对家长进一步指导,进而提高早期干预质量。     

Parents in the observer-position: a psychoanalytically informed use of video in the context of a brief parent-child intervention

The paper investigates the possibility of integrating psychoanalytic observation with video-feedback technique in the framework of a brief parent-child intervention, using case illustrations from work with two different boys and their parents. The intervention also includes the clinical use of the Adult Attachment Interview. The paper suggests that the experience of being observed, being listened to, and of watching the video helps some parents to take on the observer-position providing a new perspective on the relationship which in turn enhances their capacity for reflective functioning.