The importance of early experiences in children’s long-term development is well established. Substantial evidence has linked adverse experiences in childhood to conditions later in life, such as depression, mental health problems, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, violence, school dropout, delinquency, and long-term unemployment. Risk factors have a cumulative effect – the more adversity a child encounters, the greater the odds of developmental delays and negative outcomes later in life. Becoming a parent can be challenging and stressful for both mothers and fathers. Supporting parents in providing sensitive and responsive care can improve function in the family, promote healthy child development, and prevent future problems. The availability of appropriate parenting interventions to families with infants is crucial, as early childhood interventions have been found to be effective. The aim of this project was to evaluate assessment measures of infant social-emotional development and parent confidence, and to examine the effects of universal interventions offered to parents with infants from birth to 12 months old. In conclusion, although some studies do identify positive effects, we do not find much support for universal interventions for parents with infants from birth to 12 months. We suggest applying a selected approach for areas with families with well-known challenges, more use of screening measures, and more effort to ensure that interventions are not only offered to, but also received by the families with the greatest needs.
244 s., utgitt av University of Copenhagen i 2016.