None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The bond that develops between an infant and their caregiver shapes their developing brain and provides the framework through which they see themselves, others, and the world. Attachment theory provides a structure in which to understand this unique and important relationship. Research has shown that having a secure attachment provides resilience against adverse experiences while a poor attachment can lead to mental health problems and relational difficulties. Therapeutic interventions have been developed, which have been shown to be effective in helping caregiverchild dyads develop a secure attachment. However there is a need for these types of interventions to be less intensive and targeted at modifying the caregiver’s internal working models to increase sensitivity. This research proposes that modification can be done with psychoeducation and increasing the caregivers reflective functioning. This research project proposes an attachmentbased intervention using education and increasing the caregivers reflective functioning can be effective. Conducting the intervention using an internet based format will provide easily accessible and costeffective means of helping parents and caregivers
Interventions
This research will be conducted as part of a wait-list randomised control trial. The intervention consists of 6 online modules with psycho-educational content and an activity to complete. They contain reading material on attachment theory and will also have audio of the written material. These are to be completed individually by parents in their own homes. All the modules will be offered over the space of 3 months before the waitlist control will be able to access the intervention. Participant
This research will be conducted as part of a wait-list randomised control trial. The intervention consists of 6 online modules with psycho-educational content and an activity to complete. They contain reading material on attachment theory and will also have audio of the written material. These are to be completed individually by parents in their own homes. All the modules will be offered over the space of 3 months before the waitlist control will be able to access the intervention. Participants are encouraged to take time to think about each module ideally completing one module a week but can complete them at a rate that suits them. Each module is designed to take the client's approximately 1 hour. Mary Gregory a Clinical Psychologist has developed the intervention who has over 10 years experience working with adult and child mental health clients. The participants will be parents recruited from Child Health, Child and Youth Mental Health, Playgroup QLD and Child Safety. Google Analytics (Google Inc, 2016) will be added to the website which will provide diagnostics that can be used to anonymously track the amount of time users spend on the site, the times of day they have accessed the site, how many pages they viewed and how many times they visited the website. This information will provide evidence of treatment receipt by the participants. Treatment enactment will be measured by a Likert scale at the end of each module will measure the intervention on a scale from 1 = I did not attempt the reading to 6 = I completed the reading and then did additional work on this topic. The activity component will be measured in the same way with a scale from 1 = I did not attempt the activity to 6 = I completed the activity and then did additional work on this topic. There will also be the opportunity for participants to provide feedback as to whether they understood or enjoyed the topics discussed in the module.
Sponsors
University of the Sunshine Coast
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Any parent or foster carer involved with Playgroup QLD (Queensland), Child Health (Sunshine Coast Hospital District), Child and Youth Mental Health (Sunshine Coast Hospital District), or Child Safety (Moreton Region) with a child aged over 2 years of age. They will need internet access, to be able to read and write basic English and be over the age of 18 years to participate.
Exclusion criteria
Parents not involved with one of the services listed above. Parents under 18 years of age or those who are unable to read and write basic English. No access to internet at home and no ability to access the free internet available at the public libraries in QLD.
Outcome results
None listed