Attachment support to boost health in low-income Latino infants
Effects of Attachment-Based Intervention on Low-Income Latino Children's Emerging Health Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This project offers a home-based parenting program to see if stronger parent-child attachment improves early health for low-income Latino infants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11143859 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, a trained parent coach will visit your home for ten sessions to help you respond sensitively to your 9-month-old baby and build a secure parent-child connection. The program, called Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC), uses hands-on coaching and feedback to strengthen caregiving behaviors. Researchers will follow about 260 families over time to track physical and emotional outcomes such as growth, respiratory health, BMI measures, and stress-related biological markers. Participation may involve home visits, short interviews, and simple health measurements for your child.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are low-income Latino primary caregivers with a 9-month-old infant who are willing to receive home coaching and participate in follow-up visits.
Not a fit: Families without a 9-month-old infant, those who do not identify as Latino, or those unable or unwilling to take part in home visits and follow-up are unlikely to benefit from this specific program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could lower early health risks like obesity and respiratory problems in low-income Latino children by improving parenting and child stress regulation.
How similar studies have performed: Previous trials of attachment-based programs like ABC have improved parenting, attachment security, and some child stress regulation, but large trials showing broad physical health benefits are limited.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- University of Maryland Baltimore — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Berlin, Lisa J — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Berlin, Lisa J
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.