Publications by authors named "Elisa Altafim"

Considering the relations between mothers' temperament, parenting behaviors, and children's behavior problems, parents' temperament and negative parenting practices can act as risk factors for increasing behavior problems in children. The present study examined the associations between parenting practices, maternal temperament, and children's behavior problems. The sample comprised 50 mothers and their 2-to-6-year-old children living in Brazil.

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Parenting programs can enhance positive parenting, reduce harsh parenting, and positively impact children's development. This two-arm randomized controlled trial examined the effectiveness of the parenting program, the ACT Action Program - Raising Safe Kids, on parenting practices (primary outcomes), parental sense of competence, stimulation activities, and children's behaviors (secondary outcomes) in low-income families. The sample consisted of 1,310 caregivers and their 0-to-6-year-old children from 17 municipalities in a Brazilian state, with the majority receiving cash transfers (governmental monetary support for families facing vulnerabilities).

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Objective: The present study's objective is to assess whether sleep duration affects Early Childhood Development (ECD). A prospective cohort study was carried out with 278 mother-child dyads in the city of Fortaleza, northeastern Brazil, with data collection every 6 months.

Method: The data used in this study are from the third (18 months) and fourth (24 months) survey waves.

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Objective: Analyse the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the PAFAS (Parenting and Family Adjustment Scales) parenting scale, using data from two large Brazilian birth cohorts.

Methods: The original PAFAS parenting scale, which consists of 18 items (parental inconsistency 5 items, coercive parenting 5 items, positive encouragement 3 items, and parent-child relationship 5 items) was applied in two Brazilian birth cohorts in Pelotas (ages 4 [n = 4010] and 6-7 [n = 3867]) and Rio Grande (age 3 [n = 992]). Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted, and internal consistency assessed, as well as construct validity in relation to maternal depression measured on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.

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Background/objectives: Digital parenting programs using smartphone apps can support families in positive parenting and require evaluations of their effects, mainly in low- and middle-income countries with caregivers experiencing psychosocial vulnerabilities. The study evaluated the "Born Learning" digital parenting program on improving parenting practices, child prosocial behavior, and reducing the children's externalizing behavior problems. Additionally, participants' satisfaction and engagement with the program were evaluated.

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Article Synopsis
  • Violence is a significant global public health issue, especially in low- and middle-income countries, with parenting programs in high-income nations shown to reduce risks associated with child aggression.
  • A study evaluated two low-cost parenting programs (ACT and DBS) in Brazil to see their effects on child aggression and parenting outcomes, involving 369 children and using various assessment methods.
  • Results showed that while ACT slightly decreased harsh parenting, it had no significant impact on child aggression, and DBS enhanced book-sharing practices, but neither program showed improvements in other child development or stress outcomes.
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Emotional and behavioral regulations are crucial for the development of perceptive, responsive, and flexible parenting. Moreover, maternal emotional dysregulation constitutes a risk for maltreatment behaviors. The present study aimed to conduct a systematic review of empirical studies on the associations between mothers' emotional and behavioral regulations and parenting practices with their children or adolescents.

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To systematically review studies examining the effects of home-visiting preventive parenting programs (HV-PPs) on improving the quality of mother-child interactions in early childhood. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol, we identified 3,586 studies published between 2018 and 2022 by searching the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, BVS/LILACS, SciELO, and PsycNET/PsycINFO. After applying the eligibility criteria, 17 articles were selected for review.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigated how children of non-depressed mothers performed better on developmental tests at age 3 compared to those with depressed mothers, focusing on a sample from Brazil.
  • Analysis involved assessing maternal depression and children's development over three years using established measurement tools.
  • Results showed that persistent maternal depression negatively impacted child development, highlighting the need to prioritize the identification of women at risk for depression in maternal and child health initiatives.
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Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the literature highlighted an increased risk of child abuse and the use of negative parenting practices. Furthermore, pregnancy during this time may have been challenging and generated different feelings regarding the pandemic and motherhood. Many pregnant women had other young children, underscoring the need to understand this scenario better.

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This integrative review of the ACT Raising Safe Kids (ACT)-child maltreatment prevention program for parents-focuses on the program's theoretical framework, examines the ACT studies about the effects on caregivers, and discusses the ACT's implications for the practice and public policy. A systematic search of the PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Lilacs databases was performed, along with a search on the ACT Program website and contacting program researchers. Twenty-five studies evaluating the ACT Program were reviewed.

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The present study examined the effectiveness of a personalized remote video feedback parenting program to improve mother-child interactions and child behavior outcomes among mothers of children with behavior problems in comparison to counterparts with no behavior problems. The sample comprised 60 mothers and their 2-to-6-year-old children, including children with behavior problems (BP = 19) and children without behavior problems (NoBP = 41). The Strengthening Bonds program included one in-person group session and remote personalized video feedback about their mother-child interactions in a play situation via smartphone for six weeks.

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Background: Women living in low- and middle-income countries are more exposed to known risk factors for depression occurrence and persistency over time.

Aim: Our aim was to investigate the course of depression in the first 2 years postpartum among Brazilian women enrolled in a cash transfer program.

Method: Longitudinal analysis of baseline (T0; mean 3.

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Violence against children is a significant problem, particularly during early childhood development. Spanking and other forms of corporal punishment in child-rearing have been used by families worldwide to correct children's unwanted behaviors. Despite previous studies focusing on the negative consequences of these parental practices, open questions remain.

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Objective: The present study aims to analyze the validity of evidence and internal consistency of an inventory for assessing parenting practices during early childhood.

Method: Participants were 857 mothers of one-to-42-months children recruited in three cities in the Southeast region and one city in the Midwest region of Brazil. The participants answered a sociodemographic questionnaire with maternal and child data, and the Parenting Styles Inventory for Mothers of Babies (IEPMB).

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigated the socioeconomic, family, and individual factors affecting infant development in vulnerable families in Brazil, using data from 3,242 children under 12 months across 30 municipalities.
  • The research utilized the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) to evaluate development, finding that preterm birth and intrauterine growth restriction significantly lowered scores, particularly among children born to mothers with low education and depressive symptoms.
  • Key factors identified as having a major impact on infant development included maternal education, mental health, and specific health issues like prematurity, with implications for targeted interventions to support vulnerable families.
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The randomized controlled trial examined the efficacy of a personalized remote video feedback parenting program to improve parenting and child behavior outcomes. Ninety-two mothers of 2-6-year-old children were randomly allocated into the intervention group ( = 50) and waiting-list control group ( = 42). The Strengthening Bonds preventive program was performed to improve positive parenting.

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Adverse childhood experiences negatively impact future violence, victimization, perpetration, health, and lifelong development. The aim of the present study was to systematically review the scientific evidence of empirical studies on the association between maternal childhood adversity in a familial context, including maltreatment, household challenges, and later maternal negative parenting. A search was performed in the PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, SciELO, and LILACS databases, using the combination of the following keywords: (neglect OR abuse OR maltreatment OR harsh parenting OR punishment OR discipline OR negative parenting practices) AND (adverse childhood experiences OR early adversity OR cycle of violence OR cycle of maltreatment OR history of maltreatment) AND (mother OR maternal).

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Objective: To assess vaccination coverage, based on the National Immunization Program schedule, among children receiving financial support from the Family Income Transfer Program, Brazil, according to the family socioeconomic status and maternal characteristics.

Methods: 3,242 children under 12 months old were assessed between August/2018 and April/2019, of whom 3,008 were reassessed between September/2019 and January/2020. The analyses were performed using multilevel models (level 3, Federative Unit; level 2, municipality; level 1, children).

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Objective: To assess the perceptions of pregnant women about COVID-19 and the prevalence of common mental disorders during the implemented social distancing period.

Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional study using digital media, of pregnant women exposed to social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in Fortaleza, Ceará, Northeastern Brazil. Common mental disorders were estimated using the modified Self-Report Questionnaire-20 (SRQ-20) scale, and the feelings towards COVID-19 were assessed using the Fear of COVID-19 scale through telephone calls made in May 2020.

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Child maltreatment is a severe worldwide public health problem because of its negative consequences and should therefore be prevented through parenting programs to improve parental behavior and practices. The present review aimed to update a published review of 5 years of empirical studies on universal parenting programs to strengthen positive parenting and prevent child maltreatment. A systematic search of the PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Lilacs, and SciELO databases was performed to identify the studies of group-based structured parenting programs published from 2015 to 2019.

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This study examined the theory of change of the ACT Raising Safe Kids parenting program, including whether intervention effects on children's behavior problems were explained by improvements in mothers' reported parenting practices, as well as whether baseline child behavior problems moderated these relations. Adult mothers of 3-to 8-year-old Brazilian children were assigned to the intervention (n = 97) or control (n = 46) groups. Results showed that the intervention improved mothers' perceptions of their parenting practices (positive discipline, emotional and behavioral regulation, and communication).

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to examine factors linked to postpartum depression among mothers from socially vulnerable families in Brazil, utilizing data from a randomized trial involving over 3,200 children under 12 months.
  • Out of 3,174 mothers assessed, 26.5% exhibited depressive symptoms, with higher parity (having multiple previous pregnancies) significantly increasing the likelihood of depression.
  • Protective factors against postpartum depression included higher educational levels for both parents, support during pregnancy, and having a partner present.
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Parent training programmes have significant potential to improve the quality of children's early environments and thereby their development and life-course outcomes. The aim of this study was to identify and explain the extent to which parents engaged in two group-based training programmes, offered to high-risk families enrolled in a randomized controlled trial study called PIÁ in Southern Brazil. The programmes were: (1) ACT: Raising Safe Kids, a 9-week programme aiming to reduce harsh parenting and maltreatment and improve positive parenting practices; (2) Dialogic book-sharing (DBS), an 8-week programme aiming to promote parental sensitivity and improve child cognitive development and social understanding.

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