MedPath

Effect of Improving Caregiving on Early Mental Health

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Child Development Disorders
Interventions
Behavioral: Responsive caregiving
Registration Number
NCT00057291
Lead Sponsor
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Brief Summary

This study evaluates the effect on children and caregivers of providing training in warm, sensitive, responsive caregiving to caregivers in three orphanages in St. Petersburg, Russia. The study also assesses the effectiveness of having more consistent care from fewer caregivers in a family-like environment.

Detailed Description

This project will provide experimental evidence that warm, sensitive, responsive caregiving and structural changes that promote more consistent and fewer caregivers will lead to better physical, mental, social, and emotional development of young children. Structural changes are designed to facilitate a more family-like environment and include smaller group sizes, more consistent caregiving from fewer caregivers, integration by age and disability status, and establishing two daily 60-minute Family Hours in which children and caregivers interact together. The project also attempts to demonstrate that training caregivers can be beneficial to both caregivers and children.

All caregivers and children in three orphanages for children under 4 years old in St. Petersburg, Russia will participate in this study. One orphanage will implement both training and structural changes. A second orphanage will receive training only. The third orphanage will serve as a control, receiving neither training nor structural changes. Caregivers are assessed annually for attitudes to and problems with their jobs; anxiety and depression; coping styles; traditional versus progressive attitudes toward caregiving; sensitivity to children's emotions; values; and perceptions of their own relationships. Children are assessed at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, and 48 months for physical growth, chronic and acute disorders, functional abilities, and mental, motor, social, and emotional development.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
1521
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
caregiving interventionResponsive caregivingOne group received caregiving intervention, another received only training, and a third was business as usual. These were the interventions.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
children's physical growth4 to 9+ months

Improved physical growth

Children's development (mental, motor, social and emotional)4 to 9+ months

Improved behavioral development

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Baby Home #13

🇷🇺

St. Petersburg, Canal Gnboedora 98, Russian Federation

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