Infant Mental Health Journal最新文献

Examining the relationships among child care providers' knowledge of child development, burnout, organizational climate, and expulsion risk: A brief report. 检视儿童保育提供者的儿童发展知识、倦怠、组织氛围和开除风险之间的关系：一份简短报告。

IF 2 3区心理学

Infant Mental Health Journal Pub Date : 2026-05-01 DOI: 10.1002/imhj.70087

Juan Wang, Cheri J Shapiro, Tristan Collier, Jessica Sharp

{"title":"Examining the relationships among child care providers' knowledge of child development, burnout, organizational climate, and expulsion risk: A brief report.","authors":"Juan Wang, Cheri J Shapiro, Tristan Collier, Jessica Sharp","doi":"10.1002/imhj.70087","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.70087","url":null,"abstract":"Expulsion poses a significant barrier to high-quality and inclusive early care and education (ECE), leading to both immediate and long-term negative consequences for children and their families. This descriptive, exploratory study examined whether ECE providers' knowledge of child development, burnout, and organizational climate was associated with their attitudes and perceptions related to expulsion risk. A total of 309 ECE providers in one state in the Southeastern region of the United States taking part in a program evaluation completed an online survey prior to program implementation. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to assess associations among providers' knowledge of child development, burnout, organizational climate, and attitudes related to expulsion risk. Provider burnout was found to be significantly associated with providers' attitudes related to expulsion risk (β = .36, p < .001) despite relatively modest levels of burnout reported by this sample. Organizational climate was significantly associated only with the hopelessness subscale of the expulsion risk measure used (β = -.21, p = .034). Findings are somewhat consistent with prior research and have implications for the field regarding methods to address ECE provider burnout and organizational climate to mitigate expulsion risk and promote more inclusive ECE environments.","PeriodicalId":48026,"journal":{"name":"Infant Mental Health Journal","volume":"47 3","pages":"e70087"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13110512/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147785766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Correlates of disrupted behaviors in high-risk and maltreating parents: A comparison of the AMBIANCE-Brief and full versions 高危父母和虐待父母的异常行为的相关性：AMBIANCE-Brief和完整版本的比较。

IF 2 3区心理学

Infant Mental Health Journal Pub Date : 2026-04-13 DOI: 10.1002/imhj.70083

Solène Cognard-Bessette, Gabrielle Myre, Karine Dubois-Comtois, Diane St-Laurent, George Tarabulsy, Annie Bernier, Chantal Cyr

{"title":"Correlates of disrupted behaviors in high-risk and maltreating parents: A comparison of the AMBIANCE-Brief and full versions","authors":"Solène Cognard-Bessette, Gabrielle Myre, Karine Dubois-Comtois, Diane St-Laurent, George Tarabulsy, Annie Bernier, Chantal Cyr","doi":"10.1002/imhj.70083","DOIUrl":"10.1002/imhj.70083","url":null,"abstract":"No study has yet examined the convergence between the AMBIANCE-Brief's assessment of disrupted behavior and the full AMBIANCE version and its associations with child attachment and parental sensitivity among parents reported for maltreatment. Based on a sample of 71 parents and their young children receiving child protection or community services in Canada due to maltreatment or elevated risk for maltreatment, this study showed a moderate convergence between scores of the brief and full versions of the AMBIANCE, but the correspondence between the disrupted/non-disrupted classifications was weak. The AMBIANCE-Brief score was significantly associated with two subscales of the full version—affective communication errors and withdrawal. The AMBIANCE-Brief was significantly associated with child attachment. Parents of securely attached children exhibited the lowest levels of disrupted behaviors, while parents of disorganized children showed higher levels of disrupted behaviors than those of secure children. Also, the overall score and dimensions of the AMBIANCE full version were not significantly associated child attachment. Moreover, neither the brief nor the full version significantly correlated with parental sensitivity, suggesting these constructs may be distinct. These findings support the relevance of using the AMBIANCE-Brief with highly vulnerable and maltreating parents.","PeriodicalId":48026,"journal":{"name":"Infant Mental Health Journal","volume":"47 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13072083/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147677816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Timing of early maternal stress and transdiagnostic psychopathology in toddlers: Longitudinal associations across internalizing, dysregulation, and maladaptive symptom domains 幼儿早期母亲压力和跨诊断精神病理学的时间：跨内化、失调和适应不良症状域的纵向关联。

IF 2 3区心理学

Infant Mental Health Journal Pub Date : 2026-04-13 DOI: 10.1002/imhj.70085

Niccola Lutri, Iyanuoluwa Shonukan, Charles A. Nelson, Viviane Valdes

{"title":"Timing of early maternal stress and transdiagnostic psychopathology in toddlers: Longitudinal associations across internalizing, dysregulation, and maladaptive symptom domains","authors":"Niccola Lutri, Iyanuoluwa Shonukan, Charles A. Nelson, Viviane Valdes","doi":"10.1002/imhj.70085","DOIUrl":"10.1002/imhj.70085","url":null,"abstract":"Early childhood is a sensitive period when stress exposures may be particularly influential for socioemotional development. The current study examined the impact of maternal perceived stress at multiple longitudinal time points during the first year of life on child psychopathology symptoms at 2 years. Participants in the current study (N = 211) were part of a longitudinal prospective cohort that was followed during early childhood. Maternal perceived stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) at 2, 6, 9, and 12 months. Child socioemotional characteristics were assessed at 2 years using the Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (ITSEA). Structural equation models (SEMs) were used for statistical analyses. Higher maternal perceived stress at 9 months was associated with more general anxiety (internalizing), sensory sensitivity (dysregulation), and post-traumatic stress (dysregulation) symptoms. Higher maternal perceived stress at 12 months was associated with more separation distress (internalizing) and negative emotionality (dysregulation) symptoms. Maternal stress was not significantly associated with any symptoms within the externalizing domain. These findings suggest that the latter half of the first year of life (9 and 12 months) may be a sensitive period for stress exposures, and interventions reducing caregiver stress during this window may also improve socioemotional development transdiagnostically.","PeriodicalId":48026,"journal":{"name":"Infant Mental Health Journal","volume":"47 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147677765","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Paternal bonding failure and depression at 1 month postpartum are associated with neurodevelopmental delay in 4-year-old children: An Adjunct Study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study 产后1个月的父亲关系失败和抑郁与4岁儿童的神经发育迟缓有关：日本环境与儿童研究的辅助研究。

IF 2 3区心理学

Infant Mental Health Journal Pub Date : 2026-04-01 DOI: 10.1002/imhj.70082

Hidekazu Nishigori, Toshie Nishigori, Taku Obara, Kasumi Sakurai, Mami Ishikuro, Satoshi Mizuno, Zen Watanabe, Masatoshi Saito, Chiharu Ota, Takahiro Arima, Hirohito Metoki, Shinichi Kuriyama, Nobuo Yaegashi

{"title":"Paternal bonding failure and depression at 1 month postpartum are associated with neurodevelopmental delay in 4-year-old children: An Adjunct Study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study","authors":"Hidekazu Nishigori, Toshie Nishigori, Taku Obara, Kasumi Sakurai, Mami Ishikuro, Satoshi Mizuno, Zen Watanabe, Masatoshi Saito, Chiharu Ota, Takahiro Arima, Hirohito Metoki, Shinichi Kuriyama, Nobuo Yaegashi","doi":"10.1002/imhj.70082","DOIUrl":"10.1002/imhj.70082","url":null,"abstract":"We aimed to determine the association between paternal bonding failure and depression in the postpartum period and children's neurodevelopment, as an Adjunct Study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS), a prospective cohort study. We evaluated the association between the Japanese version of the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale (MIBS) / Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores for fathers and the Ages and Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ-3) scores in their 4-year-old children. Paternal MIBS and EPDS were administered at 1 month postpartum. Data from 646 father–child pairs were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analyses. Paternal MIBS total scores ≥5 were associated with communication (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.786; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.088–7.132), problem-solving (AOR, 3.136; 95% CI, 1.027–9.574), and personal-social delays (AOR, 2.843; 95% CI, 1.353–5.978) (reference, scores ≤2). Paternal EPDS scores ≥8 were associated with fine motor (AOR, 3.315; 95% CI, 1.470–7.473) and problem-solving delays (AOR, 4.904; 95% CI, 1.664–14.446) (reference, scores ≤7). Bonding failure and depression at 1 month postpartum in fathers are associated with neurodevelopmental delays in their 4-year-old children, with different domain-specific patterns.","PeriodicalId":48026,"journal":{"name":"Infant Mental Health Journal","volume":"47 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147595633","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Decolonizing infant mental health: Black maternal mental health decision-making 非殖民化婴儿心理健康：黑人母亲心理健康决策。

IF 2 3区心理学

Infant Mental Health Journal Pub Date : 2026-03-26 DOI: 10.1002/imhj.70081

Amittia Parker

{"title":"Decolonizing infant mental health: Black maternal mental health decision-making","authors":"Amittia Parker","doi":"10.1002/imhj.70081","DOIUrl":"10.1002/imhj.70081","url":null,"abstract":"Over the last three decades (and maybe longer), studies have documented persistent race-based maternal mental health disparities, whereas Black mothers are more likely to experience mental health concerns, and least likely to access formal mental health services due to structural racism and other social determinants. Given the history of colonization and culturally grounded collective healing, it is essential that infant mental health practitioners support Black mothers and their intentional decision-making rather than problematizing or pathologizing healthy responses. This qualitative pilot study entailed analysis of in-depth interviews with 12 Black mothers between the ages of 20 and 39 in a US midwestern metropolitan context. Three interconnected themes emerged describing the decision-making process: changing contexts in maternal mental health and decision-making, assessing supports for mental health, and recommendations for supporting Black maternal mental health and decision-making in more helpful ways. Findings reveal that Black mothers engage in complex, culturally-grounded decision-making processes that extend beyond formal mental health services to include self-help, informal support, and community-based resources. The research contributes to a theoretical understanding of how intersecting identities and contextual factors influence mental health decision-making, offering practical recommendations for culturally responsive infant mental health practice and policy development that center on Black mothers' voices and experiences.","PeriodicalId":48026,"journal":{"name":"Infant Mental Health Journal","volume":"47 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13020527/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147515891","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

The relationship between mothers' maladaptive schemas and sleep problems in 12-to-36-month-old children: The role of attachment and sleep behaviors 母亲适应不良图式与12 ~ 36月龄儿童睡眠问题的关系：依恋和睡眠行为的作用。

IF 2 3区心理学

Infant Mental Health Journal Pub Date : 2026-03-23 DOI: 10.1002/imhj.70078

Nursah Yilmaz, Ezgi Sen Yilmaz, Pinar Algedik

{"title":"The relationship between mothers' maladaptive schemas and sleep problems in 12-to-36-month-old children: The role of attachment and sleep behaviors","authors":"Nursah Yilmaz, Ezgi Sen Yilmaz, Pinar Algedik","doi":"10.1002/imhj.70078","DOIUrl":"10.1002/imhj.70078","url":null,"abstract":"Sleep problems in early childhood are common and may be shaped by maternal psychological factors. This study, performed in Turkey, explored the association between mothers' early maladaptive schemas (EMS) and sleep difficulties in children aged 12–36 months. Mothers’ early maladaptive schemas were assessed using the Young Schema Questionnaire–Short Form 3 (YSQ-S3), and sleep difficulties in children were defined according to BISQ-derived clinical criteria. The sample consisted of 58.8% boys and 41.2% girls. Among 153 mothers, those whose children had sleep problems exhibited lower levels of “enmeshment/dependence” and “punitiveness” schemas. In contrast, higher maternal “failure to achieve” scores were associated with an increased likelihood of child sleep problems, while elevated “enmeshment/dependence” scores and receiving occasional support from a partner or family served as protective factors. Notably, maternal age over 30 emerged as a strong risk factor, whereas children aged 25–36 months demonstrated fewer sleep problems compared to younger counterparts. These findings point to possible associations between maternal schematic tendencies and child sleep characteristics across developmental contexts. These preliminary observations may highlight areas for further research on caregiver–child processes relevant to early childhood sleep.","PeriodicalId":48026,"journal":{"name":"Infant Mental Health Journal","volume":"47 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13006933/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147500060","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

The effects of early childhood mental health consultation on early childhood teachers’ perceptions of children's challenging behaviors, expulsion risk, and the moderating role of teaching stress 幼儿心理健康咨询对幼儿教师对儿童挑战行为、开除风险认知的影响，以及教学压力的调节作用。

IF 2 3区心理学

Infant Mental Health Journal Pub Date : 2026-03-23 DOI: 10.1002/imhj.70079

Allison Boothe Trigg, Angela W. Keyes, Sarah Gray, Virginia Hatch, Kendyl T. Brunet, Sherryl Scott Heller

{"title":"The effects of early childhood mental health consultation on early childhood teachers’ perceptions of children's challenging behaviors, expulsion risk, and the moderating role of teaching stress","authors":"Allison Boothe Trigg, Angela W. Keyes, Sarah Gray, Virginia Hatch, Kendyl T. Brunet, Sherryl Scott Heller","doi":"10.1002/imhj.70079","DOIUrl":"10.1002/imhj.70079","url":null,"abstract":"The goal of this study was to explore the effects of infant and early childhood mental health consultation (IECMHC) on Louisiana early childhood teachers’ perceptions of individual children's and classroom behavioral challenges, children's resilience, and the risk of exclusionary practices (e.g., expulsion). It also examines how stress related to supporting a particular child (i.e., teaching stress) may influence IECMHC outcomes. A total of 194 early learning centers participated. Consultation services were provided in English at the program- and classroom-level. Teachers reported expected positive shifts, including increased perceptions of child protective factors (e.g., self-regulation) and reduced concerns related to individual and classroom behavior. Notably, reductions in classroom and child-level behavioral concerns and teacher hopelessness and fear of accountability, as well as improvements in children's protective factors and self-regulation, were most pronounced among teachers experiencing high levels of teaching stress. While findings are correlational, the role of teaching stress in shaping IECMHC outcomes offers insight into how these supports interact with expulsion risk. This information can guide the development of more effective, equity-focused IECMHC programs that reduce exclusionary discipline practices and better support teacher well-being and enhance the care of young children.","PeriodicalId":48026,"journal":{"name":"Infant Mental Health Journal","volume":"47 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13006932/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147500135","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Family protective service involvement and reduced infant cortical grey matter volume 家庭保护服务参与与婴儿皮质灰质体积减少。

IF 2 3区心理学

Infant Mental Health Journal Pub Date : 2026-03-10 DOI: 10.1002/imhj.70077

Francesca Penner, Banu Ahtam, Yangming Ou, P. Ellen Grant, Karlen Lyons-Ruth

{"title":"Family protective service involvement and reduced infant cortical grey matter volume","authors":"Francesca Penner, Banu Ahtam, Yangming Ou, P. Ellen Grant, Karlen Lyons-Ruth","doi":"10.1002/imhj.70077","DOIUrl":"10.1002/imhj.70077","url":null,"abstract":"Among older children, neglect is linked to reduced cortical grey matter volume, whereas abuse is linked to reduced right amygdala volume. Less is known about whether similar effects of adversity are evident in infancy, a period of particularly rapid brain growth. This study evaluated whether family involvement with child protective services (CPS) was linked to differences in infant brain volumes (whole brain grey matter, cortical grey matter, right and left insular cortex, and right and left amygdala). Participants were recruited in the northeastern United States. Mothers (N = 55) reported on any family involvement with CPS as a parent. Infants completed a brain MRI between 4 and 25 months of age (Mage = 11.56 months). Family CPS involvement was associated with lower infant whole brain grey matter volume, cortical grey matter volume, and left insular cortex volume. No relations to amygdala volumes were observed. Caregiving adversity may affect cortical grey matter development during infancy, with family CPS involvement as an accessible index identifying infants at risk.","PeriodicalId":48026,"journal":{"name":"Infant Mental Health Journal","volume":"47 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12972846/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147390477","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Examining associations between Adult Attachment Interview responses and multiple indicators of parental mentalizing 检视成人依恋访谈回应与父母心理化多个指标之间的关联

IF 2 3区心理学

Infant Mental Health Journal Pub Date : 2026-01-28 DOI: 10.1002/imhj.70072

Nikita Parkin, Amy Bird, Annette M. E. Henderson, Alixandra Risi, Judy A. Pickard

{"title":"Examining associations between Adult Attachment Interview responses and multiple indicators of parental mentalizing","authors":"Nikita Parkin, Amy Bird, Annette M. E. Henderson, Alixandra Risi, Judy A. Pickard","doi":"10.1002/imhj.70072","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.70072","url":null,"abstract":"Parental mentalization has been identified as a key mechanism in attachment transmission (Sharp & Fonagy, 2008; Van IJzendoorn & Bakermans-Kranenburg, 2019). With a community sample of 63 mothers of infants, this study examined associations between adult attachment state of mind (using the Adult Attachment Interview), parental mental health and parental mentalizing: both self-reported parental reflective functioning (PRFQ; Luyten et al., 2017) and observed and representational mind-mindedness (Meins & Fernyhough, 2015). Results revealed an association between parent attachment and psychological distress and an association between parent attachment and mentalizing. Support for psychological distress moderating the relationship between attachment and mentalizing was also found for parents’ non-attuned mind-mindedness, and the PRFQ measures of interest and curiosity. These findings align with existing research underscoring the role of parental mentalizing in the transmission of attachment and highlight the potential vulnerability of parental mentalization capacities to fluctuations in mental health, even among individuals with autonomous attachment representations.","PeriodicalId":48026,"journal":{"name":"Infant Mental Health Journal","volume":"47 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146148212","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Household instability and self-regulation in Head Start children: The mediating and moderating roles of bedtime routines 家庭不稳定性与学前儿童的自我调节：睡前习惯的中介与调节作用。

IF 2 3区心理学

Infant Mental Health Journal Pub Date : 2026-01-21 DOI: 10.1002/imhj.70071

Ying Zhang, Sangita Pudasainee-Kapri, Rachel A. Razza, Nabiha Madre

{"title":"Household instability and self-regulation in Head Start children: The mediating and moderating roles of bedtime routines","authors":"Ying Zhang, Sangita Pudasainee-Kapri, Rachel A. Razza, Nabiha Madre","doi":"10.1002/imhj.70071","DOIUrl":"10.1002/imhj.70071","url":null,"abstract":"Children in unstable homes face frequent changes and distractions from unpredictable events, leading to lower emotional regulation and reduced attentional regulation. This study investigated the role of early bedtime routines in the relationship between household instability and self-regulation among Early Head Start children. Specifically, we investigated whether early bedtime routines function as a mediating mechanism or a moderating factor in the association between early household instability and children's self-regulation. The analytic sample included 1760 primarily low-income, ethnic minority families in the U.S. Using two separate longitudinal models, we tested the mediation effect using path analysis and found that early bedtime routine during toddlerhood (14–36 months) significantly mediated the relationship between household instability and both emotional and attentional regulation at 36 months. However, the moderation analysis did not yield significant evidence supporting the buffering role of bedtime routines. This study provides empirical evidence that parents’ engagement in establishing consistent early bedtime routines plays a significant mediating role in supporting the development of children's emotional and attentional regulation in the context of household instability.","PeriodicalId":48026,"journal":{"name":"Infant Mental Health Journal","volume":"47 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146012830","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0