Parental Influences on Mental Health in Infancy and Early Childhood

Infant mental health and psychological development are profoundly influenced by the quality of early parent-child interactions. Increasingly, research highlights the critical role of factors such as parental emotional availability, bonding and attachment as well as early intervention strategies in influencing mental health outcomes during infancy and early childhood. For example, studies have revealed associations between parental behaviors and excessive crying as well as feeding and sleeping disorders. However, the direction of these effects as well as the role of potential mediators and moderators are not fully understood. Gaining deeper insights into these relationships is crucial for developing effective interventions, especially in the contexts of adversity such as child maltreatment.

This Research Topic aims to explore the critical role of parental influences in shaping infant mental health trajectories, with a particular focus on the role of the parent-child interaction quality. Key goals include identifying mechanisms through which parental behaviors affect child outcomes (and vice versa), uncovering the etiology of disorders in infancy and early childhood, and evaluating the effectiveness of evidence-based interventions in clinical settings. By integrating theoretical constructs with empirical findings, we seek to inform and refine therapeutic practices that promote optimal developmental outcomes in early childhood.

We welcome a wide range of studies that explore the boundaries of parental influence on developmental outcomes in infancy and early childhood, with a particular focus on mental health disorders in the first years of life. Articles may address, but are not limited to, the following themes:

o Understanding how parent-child interaction quality influences early psychological development and intervention success
o Etiological mechanisms underlying early mental disorders and their impact on development
o Psychosocial and genetic factors contributing to mental health disorders in infancy and early childhood
o The role of the parent-child-interaction quality in therapeutic settings and its impact on treatment efficacy
o Intervention models aimed at enhancing parent-child relationships to prevent mental health issues

Research contributions could include empirical studies, review articles, and methodological papers using diverse approaches such as longitudinal assessments, clinical trials, and intervention studies. Drawing on interdisciplinary insights from clinical psychology, developmental science, and psychotherapy, this Research Topic aims to advance our understanding of early parent-infant dynamics and promote practices that enhance mental health and developmental outcomes in young children.

If you are not an invited author but would like to submit a paper to this Research Topic, please email us at developmentalpsychology@frontiersin.org with the title or general theme of your work and any questions you may have.

Keywords: Maternal Emotional Availability, Infant Mental Health, Parent-Child Attachment, Regulatory Disorders, Early Intervention

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.