The DOI matches its Crossref record; 254 of the 254 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Maternal sensitivity, its relationship with child outcomes, and interventions that address it: a systematic literature review
Abstract
There is strong evidence that children of mothers with insecure attachment styles have poor outcome trajectories. Maternal sensitivity may be the behaviour which links mother and child attachment models. This would, therefore, be a natural target for treatment in attachment interventions. A systematic literature review was conducted to determine the body of knowledge regarding maternal sensitivity, with a focus on the evidence-base for maternal sensitivity measures and interventions. We searched the PsychINFO and Medline databases up to December 2016, for peer-reviewed journal articles with ‘maternal sensitivity’ in the subject heading, MeSH Terms or abstract fields. One thousand four hundred and fifteen articles were retrieved. Following removal of duplicates and non-relevant material, 687 articles reviewed and categorized. There is extensive research linking maternal sensitivity, attachment, and child outcomes. Far fewer articles exist of published maternal sensitivity measures or interventions. At present, the evidence-base for directly affecting attachment via maternal sensitivity interventions is equivocal.
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In the citing paper
“In particular, evidence suggests that receiving sensitive caregiving from a primary attachment figure, defined as the capacity to notice and correctly interpret the child’s signals and to respond contingently, is key [22, 26].”
From Optimizing parenting and child outcomes following parent–child interaction therapy – toddler: a randomized controlled trial (2024) · cites this paper as [26]
In the citing paper
“Given the well-document core role of caregiving sensitivity in the development of secure parent–child attachment relationships [22, 26]”
From Optimizing parenting and child outcomes following parent–child interaction therapy – toddler: a randomized controlled trial (2024) · cites this paper as [26]
Citations
Cites
Sensitivity and attachment: A meta-analysis on parental antecedents of infant attachment
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Less is more: meta-analyses of sensitivity and attachment interventions in early childhood
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Kohlhoff, J., Wallace, N., Cibralic, S., Morgan, S., Briggs, N. E., McMahon, C., Hawkins, E., Druskin, L., Owen, C., Lieneman, C., et al. (2024) · BMC Psychology · doi:10.1186/s40359-024-02171-0 · Cited by 11
“In particular, evidence suggests that receiving sensitive caregiving from a primary attachment figure, defined as the capacity to notice and correctly interpret the child’s signals and to respond contingently, is key [22, 26].”
Metadata
- Authors
- Deans, C. L.
- Affiliations
- Victoria University (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Deans, Carolyn L.
- ORCID
- Deans, Carolyn L.
- Venue
- Early Child Development and Care
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2018-04-23
- Volume
- 190
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 252-275
- ISSN
- 0300-4430 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-8275
- OpenAlex
- W2801434705
- Cited by
- 148
- References
- 254
- Citations by year
- 2026: 24 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 1.12
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Early Child Development and Care (publishedVersion)
- Victoria University Research Repository (Victoria University) (submittedVersion)
- 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
- maternal sensitivity, insecure attachment, attachment-based intervention, child outcomes, maternal attachment, early intervention
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