***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: The provision of maternal-infant body contact during a period of maternal separation was examined for its effects on  parent-infant and triadic interactions .  Participants were 146 three-month-old preterm infants and their parents , half of whom received skin-to-skin contact , or kangaroo care ( KC ) , in the neonatal nursery . Global relational style and micro-patterns of proximity and touch were coded . Following KC , mothers and fathers were more sensitive and less intrusive , infants showed less negative affect , and family style was more cohesive . Among KC families , maternal and paternal affectionate touch of infant and spouse was more frequent , spouses remained in closer proximity , and infant proximity position was conducive to mutual gaze and touch during triadic play . The role of touch as a constituent of the co-regulatory parent-infant and triadic systems and the effects of maternal contact on mothering , co-parenting , and family processes are discussed Associations among adolescent  attachment organization , maternal sensitivity , and infant attachment organization were examined prospect ively in 74 teenaged mother-infant dyads . Pregnant teenagers ' attachment organizations predicted both sensitivity and infant-mother attachments . Mothers classified autonomous ( F ) in the prenatal period showed higher levels of sensitivity at both 3 and 9 months than mothers classified dismissing ( Ds ) , preoccupied ( E ) , or unresolved ( U ) . Correspondence between maternal attachment ( F vs. Ds/E/U ) and infant attachment ( secure [ B ] vs. avoidant [A]/resistant [C]/disorganized [ D ] ) was observed in 58 of 74 ( 78 % ) dyads . Exact 4-group ( Ds/E/F/U and A/B/C/D ) agreement was observed in 50 of 74 ( 68 % ) families . In contrast , associations between maternal sensitivity and infant attachment were not significant , leading to questions about the processes that link attachment representations , maternal behavior , and infant attachment in adolescent mothers Postnatal depression and anxiety have been shown to increase the risk of disturbances in mother – child interaction and child development . Research into mechanisms has focused on genetics and maternal behavior ; maternal cognitions have received little attention . Our aim was to experimentally determine if worry and rumination in mothers with generalized anxiety disorder ( GAD ) and major depressive disorder ( MDD ) , diagnosed in the postnatal 6 months , interfered with maternal responsiveness to their 10-month old infants . Mothers ( N = 253 : GAD n = 90 ; MDD n = 57 ; control n = 106 ) and their infants were r and omized to either a worry/rumination prime ( WRP ) or a neutral prime ( NP ) ; mother – infant interactions were assessed before and after priming . Type of priming was a significant predictor of maternal cognitions , with WRP result ing in more negative thoughts , higher thought recurrence and more self-focus relative to NP across the entire sample . Interaction effects between group and priming were significant for two parenting variables : Compared with controls , WRP had a more negative impact on maternal responsiveness to infant vocalization for GAD , and to a lesser extent for MDD ; WRP led to decreased maternal vocalization for GAD . Also , mothers with GAD used stronger control after the NP than WRP , as well as compared with other groups , and overall post-priming , their children exhibited lower emotional tone and more withdrawal . Across the entire sample , WRP was associated with increased child vocalization relative to NP . This study demonstrated that disturbances in maternal cognitions , in the context of postnatal anxiety and to a lesser degree depression , play a significant role in mother – child interaction The efficacy of a short-term attachment-based intervention for changing risk outcomes for children of maltreating families was examined using a r and omized control trial . Sixty-seven primary caregivers reported for maltreatment and their children ( 1 - 5 years ) were r and omly assigned to an intervention or control group . The intervention group received 8 weekly home visits directed at the caregiver-child dyad and focused on improving caregiver sensitivity . Intervention sessions included brief discussion s of attachment-emotion regulation-related themes and video feedback of parent-child interaction . Comparison of pre- and posttest scores revealed significant improvements for the intervention group in parental sensitivity and child attachment security , and a reduction in child disorganization .  Older children in the intervention group also showed lower levels of internalizing and externalizing problems following intervention . This is the first study to demonstrate the efficacy of short-term attachment-based intervention in enhancing parental sensitivity , improving child security , and reducing disorganization for children in the early childhood period This prospect i ve 3 year longitudinal study investigated preschool paternal and maternal parenting predictors of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD ) in a community sample of 93 school-age boys . Participants were recruited on the basis of inattention-hyperactivity at age 4 and fathers and mothers were observed interacting with their sons . Teachers , fathers , and mothers reported children 's ADHD symptoms and impairment . Results from dimensional analysis showed that less observed paternal sensitivity and maternal positive regard predicted higher levels of inattentiveness in middle childhood , and that intrusive paternal behavior was predictive of hyperactive-impulsive behavior at school . In categorical analysis , less maternal warmth and sensitivity were predictive of later ADHD . These predictions held after statistical adjustment for the effects of preschool ADHD behaviors and conduct problems . At follow-up , parents of boys with ADHD reported more negative child-parent relationship perceptions than comparison parents . Findings highlight the importance of examining responsive parenting behaviors of both fathers and mothers in relation to multi-informant ratings of ADHD symptoms BACKGROUND A tradition of separation of the mother and baby after birth still persists in many parts of the world , including some parts of Russia , and often is combined with swaddling of the baby . The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare possible long-term effects on mother-infant  interaction of practice s used in the delivery and maternity wards , including practice s relating to mother-infant closeness versus separation . METHODS A total of 176 mother-infant pairs were r and omized into four experimental groups : Group I infants were placed skin-to-skin with their mothers after birth , and had rooming-in while in the maternity ward . Group II infants were dressed and placed in their mothers ' arms after birth , and roomed-in with their mothers in the maternity ward . Group III infants were kept in the nursery both after birth and while their mothers were in the maternity ward . Group IV infants were kept in the nursery after birth , but roomed-in with their mothers in the maternity ward . Equal numbers of infants were either swaddled or dressed in baby clothes . Episodes of early suckling in the delivery ward were noted . The mother-infant interaction was videotaped according to the Parent-Child Early Relational Assessment ( PCERA ) 1 year after birth . RESULTS The practice of skin-to-skin contact , early suckling , or both during the first 2 hours after birth when compared with separation between the mothers and their infants positively affected the PCERA variables maternal sensitivity , infant 's self-regulation , and dyadic mutuality and reciprocity at 1 year after birth . The negative effect of a 2-hour separation after birth was not compensated for by the practice of rooming-in . These findings support the presence of a period after birth ( the early " sensitive period " ) during which close contact between mother and infant may induce long-term positive effect on mother-infant interaction . In addition , swaddling of the infant was found to decrease the mother 's responsiveness to the infant , her ability for positive affective involvement with the infant , and the mutuality and reciprocity in the dyad . CONCLUSIONS Skin-to-skin contact , for 25 to 120 minutes after birth , early suckling , or both positively influenced mother-infant interaction 1 year later when compared with routines involving separation of mother and infant Objectives : To evaluate the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of an intensive home visiting programme in improving outcomes for vulnerable families . Design : Multicentre r and omised controlled trial in which eligible women were allocated to receive home visiting  ( n = 67 ) or  st and ard services ( n = 64 ) . Incremental cost analysis . Setting : 40 general practitioner practice s across 2 counties in the UK . Participants : 131 vulnerable pregnant women . Intervention : Selected health visitors were trained in the Family Partnership Model to provide a weekly home visiting service from 6 months antenatally to 12 months postnatally . Main outcome measures : Mother – child interaction , maternal psychological health attitudes and behaviour , infant functioning and development , and risk of neglect or abuse . Results : At 12 months , differences favouring the home-visited group were observed on an independent assessment of maternal sensitivity ( p<0.04 ) and infant cooperativeness ( p<0.02 ) . No differences were identified on any other measures . A non-significant increase in the likelihood of intervention group infants being the subject of child protection proceedings , or being removed from the home , and one death in the control group were found . The mean incremental cost per infant of the home visiting intervention was £ 3246 ( bootstrapped 95 % CI for the difference £ 1645–4803 ) . Conclusion : This intervention may have the potential to improve parenting and increase the identification of infants at risk of abuse and neglect in vulnerable families . Further investigation is needed , along with long-term follow-up to assess possible sleeper effects Animal studies have demonstrated the interactive effects of prenatal stress exposure and postnatal rearing style on offspring capacity to manage stress . However , little is known about how parenting quality impacts the association between maternal prenatal anxiety and stress reactivity in human infants . This prospect i ve study examined the impact of prenatal anxiety disorder and maternal caregiving sensitivity on infants ' responses to a st and ardised interactive stressor ( still-face procedure ) .  Eighty-four women completed a clinical interview during pregnancy to assess anxiety symptoms meeting DSM-IV diagnostic criteria . At infant age 7 months , maternal sensitivity to infant distress and infant negative affect were observed and coded during the still-face procedure .  Maternal postnatal ( concurrent ) anxiety and depression were also assessed at this time . Results indicated a negative association between maternal sensitivity to infant distress and infant negative affect responses to the still-face procedure . An unexpected finding was a positive association between parity and infant reactivity . The main effect for sensitivity was qualified by a significant interaction , p<.05 , suggesting that the impact of sensitivity was particularly marked among infants of women who experienced an anxiety disorder during pregnancy . This finding is consistent with a cumulative risk model suggesting that maternal prenatal anxiety and quality of maternal care act in concert to shape infant outcomes In a r and omized controlled trial at 12-months of age , the effect of the Mother Infant Transaction Program was tested on social interaction between mothers and moderately and late preterm infants with gestational age≥30.0 and < 36 weeks . Ninety-three play sessions were videotaped and coded , 46 mothers-infants in the intervention group and 47 mothers-infants in the control group . The intervention mothers scored higher on maternal sensitivity/responsiveness ( p=.05 ) . Being a first-time mother was a moderator that enhanced the effects of the intervention . First-time mothers were more sensitive/responsive to their infant 's cues ( p=.01 ) , and the dyads evinced higher level of synchrony ( p=.02 ) as compared with experienced mothers . More positive mood was observed among their infants ( p=.04 ) . The findings suggest that the intervention contributes to better mother-infant interactions in moderately and late preterm infants of first-time mothers Abstract The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the precursors and familial conditions which sustain school-aged children 's separation anxiety .  In a prospect i ve , longitudinal study of 99 mother – child dyads , infancy  measures of  infant – mother attachment security ,  maternal  separation anxiety  , and maternal  sensitivity were used to predict children 's self-reported symptoms of separation anxiety at age 6 . Insecurely attached children reported more separation anxiety than securely attached children . Insecure-ambivalent children reported marginally more separation anxiety than securely attached children , but not more than insecure-avoidant attached children . Regression analysis showed infant – mother attachment security and mother 's sensitivity added uniquely to the prediction of  children 's separation anxiety , but mother 's separation anxiety did not . Mediation tests show that the effect of mother 's separation anxiety on children 's separation anxiety may be mediated by maternal sensitivity . Research and clinical implication s are discussed Mother-infant relationship disturbances occur in three domains : maternal distress , infant functional problems , and relationship difficulties . They constitute common clinical problems . In Sweden , they are usually h and led by nurses as part of public Child Health Centre care . Severe cases are referred to child psychiatry services . This r and omized controlled trial compared two groups of mother-infant dyads in a Stockholm sample . One  received only Child Health Centre care ( the " CHCC "  group ) while the other received mother-infant psychoanalytic treatment plus CHCC ( the "  MIP  " group ) . Eighty dyads of mothers and infants under 1½ years of age where the mothers had serious concerns about themselves in their role as mothers , their infants ' well-being , or the mother-baby relationship were r and omly selected for either the MIP or the CHCC group . The primary outcomes were mother-reported depression , mother-reported infant functional problems , and interviewer-based relationship assessment s , all at 6 months after joining the project . Secondary outcomes were mother-reported stress and general psychic distress , externally rated video-recorded interactions , and the consumption of healthcare at the CHC , again all after 6 months . Intent-to-treat analyses of Treatment × Time effects significantly favored MIP treatment for maternal depression , mother-infant relationships , and maternal sensitivity . Effect 
    Output:
    
Consistent with the search criteria , each of the instruments clearly includes the key elements of Ainsworth ’s definition of sensitivity .
Notable deviations from the original scale are the use of composite scales rather than a single global scale and the related inclusion of new elements , and specifically the inclusion of positive affect as an indicator of sensitivity .