How a mother's early life and caring affect a child's health
Mothers' childhood experiences, maternal sensitivity, and immune regulation in young children
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · NIH-11192927
This project explores how a mother's childhood experiences and her sensitive caregiving might shape the immune health of her young children, especially those whose mothers are living with opioid dependence.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11192927 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
We are looking into how a mother's own childhood experiences, both difficult and positive, might influence her ability to provide sensitive care, and how this care, in turn, affects her young child's immune system. This work focuses on mothers who are living with opioid dependence, as they often face many challenges. We hope to better understand these connections in infants and toddlers to find new ways to support families and promote children's well-being. This project builds upon an ongoing program designed to help mothers and children connect.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project is specifically looking for infants and toddlers (ages 3 months to 36 months) whose mothers are living with opioid dependence.
Not a fit: Patients not fitting the specific age range or whose mothers do not have a history of opioid dependence would not directly benefit from participation in this particular project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us develop better ways to support mothers with challenging pasts, improving their parenting and boosting their children's long-term health and immune system development.
How similar studies have performed: This project builds on an existing clinical trial for an intervention called Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC), suggesting that similar approaches to supporting parent-child relationships have shown promise.
Where this research is happening
PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA — PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: YU, ZHIYUAN — UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- Study coordinator: YU, ZHIYUAN
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.