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Cited by 29Attachment and Relationship DynamicsChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research

The Circle of Security Parenting Program (COS-P): A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Low Intensity, Individualized Attachment-Based Program With at-Risk Caregivers

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Zimmer-Gembeck, Melanie J., Rudolph, Julia, Edwards, Elia-Jade, Swan, Kellie, Campbell, Shawna M., Hawes, Tanya, Webb, Haley J.·2022·Behavior Therapy
DOI 10.1016/j.beth.2021.07.003
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Abstract

The Circle of Security-Parenting Intervention (COS-P; Cooper et al., 2009) is a psychoeducational program for caregivers of young children that has been widely disseminated. The program is founded in attachment theory and relies on computer-delivered content and parent reflection and discussion to teach concepts of safety and security to promote better caregiver-child relationships and child wellbeing. The present study is a randomized controlled trial of COS-P, individually delivered to 85 Australian caregivers (51 COS-P, 34 waitlist control) who reported parenting distress and child disruptive behaviors. Caregivers completed a baseline assessment and repeated the assessment after completion of COS-P or 8 weeks on the waitlist. Caregivers completed surveys to report child symptoms, and parenting stress, anxious and avoidant attachment, reflective functioning, parenting practices, and depressive symptoms. No differences in COS-P vs. waitlist participants were found at baseline. Analyses of complete data (35 COS-P, 25-26 waitlist) revealed a greater decline in caregivers' attachment anxiety and negative parenting relative to waitlist, but only attachment anxiety in intent-to-treat analyses. Other improvements were found, but these extended to both the COS-P and waitlist conditions and did not differ between conditions. Overall, effects of COS-P were small and rarely significant, suggesting the need to consider alternative programs that have evidence of effectiveness when providing services to at-risk families.

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Berlin, L., Zeanah, C. & Lieberman, A. (2016). Prevention and intervention programs to support early attachment security: A move to the level of the community. In J. Cassidy & P. R. COS-P Randomized Controlled Trial Results 26 Shaver (Eds.), Handbook of attachment: Theory, research and clinical applications (3rd ed., pp. 739-758). Guilford Press.
  2. Cassidy, J., Shaver, P. R., Allen, J. P., Allison, E., Azis-Clauson, C. (Eds.) (2017a). Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications. Guilford Press.
  3. Thompson, R. A. (2016). Early attachment and later development: Familiar questions, new answers. In J. Cassidy & P. R. Shaver (Eds.), Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications (3rd ed., pp. 330-348). Guilford Press.

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Authors
Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Rudolph, J., Edwards, E.-J., Swan, K., Campbell, S. M., Hawes, T., & Webb, H. J.
Affiliations
Griffith University (AU)
ORCID
Venue
Behavior Therapy
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2022-03
Volume
53
Issue
2
Pages
208-223
ISSN
0005-7894 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.beth.2021.07.003
OpenAlex
W4229029443
Cited by
29
References
62
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3
FWCI
2.45
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Behavior Therapy (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Greenwich Academic Literature Archive (University of Greenwich) (acceptedVersion)
  • Griffith Research Online (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
Keywords
attachment-based intervention, parenting support, attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, parental stress, child disruptive behavior, high-risk families, caregiver-child relationship, reflective functioning, low-intensity intervention
MeSH terms
Australia, Child, Preschool, Humans, Parent-Child Relations, Parents, Parenting, Caregivers

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