TY - JOUR T1 - Less is more: meta-analyses of sensitivity and attachment interventions in early childhood. JF - Psychol Bull Y1 - 2003 A1 - Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marian J A1 - Van IJzendoorn, Marinus H A1 - Juffer, Femmie KW - Behavior Therapy KW - Cross-Sectional Studies KW - Family Therapy KW - Follow-Up Studies KW - Humans KW - Infant KW - Object Attachment KW - Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care) KW - Parenting KW - Personality Assessment KW - Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic AB -

Is early preventive intervention effective in enhancing parental sensitivity and infant attachment security, and if so, what type of intervention is most successful? Seventy studies were traced, producing 88 intervention effects on sensitivity (n = 7,636) and/or attachment (n = 1,503). Randomized interventions appeared rather effective in changing insensitive parenting (d = 0.33) and infant attachment insecurity (d = 0.20). The most effective interventions used a moderate number of sessions and a clear-cut behavioral focus in families with, as well as without, multiple problems. Interventions that were more effective in enhancing parental sensitivity were also more effective in enhancing attachment security, which supports the notion of a causal role of sensitivity in shaping attachment.

VL - 129 UR - file:///C:/Users/njf7/Downloads/Bakermans2003.pdf IS - 2 ER -