Showing papers in "Tradition in 1996"

The disturbed caregiving system: Relations among childhood trauma, maternal caregiving, and infant affect and attachment

Abstract: The interrelations among maternal childhood experiences of physical or sexual abuse, adult trauma-related symptoms, adult caregiving behavior, and infant affect and attachment were investigated among 45 low-income mothers and their 18-month-old infants. A history of physical abuse was associated with increased hostile-intrusive behavior toward the infant, increased infant negative affect, and a decreased tendency to report trauma-related symptoms. A history of sexual abuse was associated with decreased involvement with the infant, more restricted maternal affect, and more active reporting of trauma-related symptoms. Infants of mothers who had experienced childhood violence or abuse were not more likely to display insecure attachment strategies than infants of mothers who had not experienced trauma. However, the form of insecure behavior was significantly different. Insecure infants of violence-exposed mothers displayed predominantly disorganized strategies, whereas insecure infants of mothers with benign childhoods or neglect only displayed predominantly avoidant strategies. Results are discussed in relation to Main and Hesse's (1990) concept of frightened or frightening behavior and to current literature on psychological sequelae of trauma.

Representational models of relationships: Links between caregiving and attachment

Abstract: According to attachment theory, the child's attachment behavioral system is complemented by a reciprocal caregiving system in the parent. Going beyond current descriptions of caregiving as a set of discrete parental behaviors and attitudes that are related to attachment, we have sought to describe caregiving as a behavioral system that is organized in its own right. Examination interviews of 32 mothers of 6-year-old children, we found a significant correspondence between maternal internal working models of caregiving on the dimensions of secure base, rejection, uncertainty, and helplessness and their children's attachment classification. A significant concordance between caregiving classification and adult attachment classification and between adult attachment classification and child attachment classification was also found. The relation between child attachment, adult attachment, and the caregiving system is discussed.

Defining the caregiving system : Toward a theory of caregiving

Abstract: Le but de cet article est de presenter une structure preliminaire pour conceptualiser le systeme de comportement du mode de soin. En suivant Bowlby (1969/1982), nous proposons que le mode de soin est organise dans un systeme de comportement a but corrige qui est reciproque de l'attachement. Le but donne du systeme est de tenir proche et de proteger la progeniture dependante; sa fonction adaptatrice est la protection des jeunes. Le systeme de mode de soin est fait pour offrir des niveaux changeants et des formes de protections dependant des besoins individuels et des besoins de developpement des jeunes. Cependant, les interets evolutionnistes du parent ne chevauchent pas entierement ceux de l'enfant puisque la sante evolutionniste du parent depend de la sante de toute sa progeniture. Le mode de soin est un parmi plusieurs systemes de motivation chez le parent. Suivant les circonstances, les parents peuvent faire un choix entre un certain nombre de strategies de mode de soin dont on admet qu'elles correspondent au continuum des relations d'attachement de l'enfant (sur; esquivant; ambivalent). Le systeme de mode de soin adulte est, pense-t-on, guide par une representation inteme ou un modele mental de mode de soin. Ce systeme a ses racines dans les experiences d'attachement du mode de soin, mais s'en distingue. Nous suggerons que le systeme de representation du mode de soin se consolide initialement durant l'adolescence et change durant la transition a la condition de parent et change egalement en tant que fonction de l'interaction avec l'enfant. Une fois que ce developpement est termine, les situations de danger et de securite devraient activer le systeme de comportement du mode de soin. Dans des conditions normales, si le propre systeme d'attachement du parent est reveille, elle devrait fait appel a ses propres figures d'attachement plutot qu'a l'enfant. Cependant, les situations qui declenchent des sentiments d'impuissance chez la mere, i.e., qui la font se percevoir comme etant incapable de proteger l'enfant, peuvent desorganiser ou desemparer le systeme de mode de soin a la fois aux niveaux de comportement et de representation.

Physical, sexual and psychological abuse in high school dating relationships: Prevalence rates and self-esteem issues

Abstract: The present study examined the rates of victimization by physical, sexual and psychological abuse in adolescent dating relationships, with self-esteem being explored as a mediating variable. Subjects included 257 students from a coed, ethnically diverse, religiously affiliated high school. Information was obtained using a self-report questionnaire on teenage dating behaviors. Of the 114 male and 118 female subjects who had dating experience, 59% had been victimized at least once in some past or current dating relationship by physical violence, 96% had experienced some form of psychological maltreatment and 15% had been forced to engage in sexual activity. Significantly more males than females reported experiencing physical abuse overall. Significantly more males than females experienced acts of moderate physical abuse, while there was no significant gender difference in the experience of acts of severe physical abuse. Thirteen percent of the subjects stated they had remained in a physically abusive relationship at one time, with females being more likely to remain than males. Self-esteem was not a factor in the level of physical abuse sustained in dating relationships, nor was there a significant difference in the levels of self-esteem between subjects who remained in, terminated, or never were involved in, physically abusive dating relationships. For all subjects, self-esteem negatively correlated with the level of psychological maltreatment sustained in dating relationships, but separate analysis by gender found the correlation was significant only for female subjects.

Discourse, memory, and the adult attachment interview : A note with emphasis on the emerging cannot classify category

Abstract: Ce bref rapport met l'accent sur l'apparition d'une nouvelle categorie de l'Entretien d'Attachement Adulte (Adult Attachment Interview, soit AAI en anglais): la categorie Impossible a Classifier. Le systeme de classification de l'Entretien d'Attachement Adulte est etudie en mettant l'accent sur les differences entre les categories AAI en ce qu'elles se rattachent a des strategies ou des defaillances de strategie pour l'integration et la concentration de l'attention et de la memoire. La categorie Impossible a Classifier differe des autres categories AAI en ce qu'elle semble representer une rupture globale dans l'organisation et le maintien d'une strategie singuliere pour l'adherence aux tâches de discours de AAI. Certains resultats et speculations recents quant aux implications cliniques de la categorie Impossible a Classifier sont offerts.

Mothers' resolution of their children's diagnosis: Organized patterns of caregiving representations

Abstract: Dans cet article nous examinons les representations que font les meres d'une forme de trauma au systeme de mode de soin: l'experience du fait de recevoir un diagnostic d'une maladie chronique ou d'un handicap chez leur enfant. Un entretien et un systeme de classification ont ete utilises avec 91 meres d'enfants âges de 15-50 mois atteints de paralysie cerebrale ou d'epilepsie. Les meres ont ete classifiees en tant que resolues ou Non Resolues pour ce qui conceme le diagnostic de leur enfant, et regroupees en sous-categories au sein de ces principaux groupes. Environ la moitie de ces meres ont ete classifiees comme Non Resolues en ce qui conceme le diagnostic de leur enfant. Le type de diagnostic, la severite de l'etat, l'âge de developpement, et la periode ecoulee depuis le moment ou le diagnostic a ete fait n'etaient pas lies a la distribution des classifications Resolues/Non Resolues. Les pattems de resolution dans lesquels les strategies cognitives predominaient etaient la forme la plus frequente au sein de la classification Resolue. Les resultats soutiennent la nature d'organisation des representations de modes de soin et soutiennent egalement un nombre d'implications pour la pratique clinique.

Outcome evaluation in brief mother‐infant psychotherapies: Report on 75 cases

Abstract: Les effets de psychotherapies breves mere-bebe (maximum de 10 seances) ont ete examines dans des cas de troubles fonctionnels et de troubles du comportement chez des enfants de moins de 30 mois. Soixante-quinze dyades mere bebe ont ete evaluees avant le traitement, a une semaine, et a six mois apres la fin de la therapie. Les mesures de resultats consistaient dans les changements des symptomes du bebe, des interactions des entre la mere et le bebe et des representations matemelles, L'effet de deux formes d'intervention-la Therapie Psychodynamique et la Guidance Interactive-a ete compare. Les resultats indiquent une forte reduction des symptomes, les interactions dyadiques devenant plus harmonieuses (les meres sont devenues moins intrusives et les enfants plus cooperatifs). La confance en soi matemelle a augmente de maniere significative et les affects negatifs ont baisse. Les progres ont dure au moins plusieurs mois, avec une amelioration positive detectee au suivi de 6 mois. Aucune difference significative n'a ete trouvee entre les effets des deux formes d'intervention. Dans les limites de recherches faites dans un contexte clinique, cette etude suggere que les psychotherapies breves mere-bebe sont une methode rentable d'intervention precoce.

A follow-up study of adopted children from Romania

Abstract: Romania became notorious in recent history for the problems in its child welfare system. A black cloud continues to hang over the country since media reports, such as 20/20's “Shame of a Nation”, and other writings and broadcasts have focused worldwide attention on the child welfare problems in Romania. During this same time period from 1990 to 1993, several thousand children were adopted from Romania by North American families. This study describes the positive and negative aspects of children adopted from Romania. It gives particular attention to the experiences of families who adopted children from institutional settings compared to other placements.

Dyadic processes between mothers and preterm infants: Development at ages 2 to 5 years

Abstract: De fac a identifier les antecedents de competence cognitive, linguistique et sociale a l'âge de 2 a 5 ans chez des enfants prematures a risque biologique et social, cette etude a utilise des procedures multiples, administrees au laboratoire, a 13 et 20 mois, pour mesurer les constituants des interactions sociales entre 51 meres et leurs nourrissons prematures. L'on a trouve que deux variables, la reaction maternelle a la vocalisation du nourrisson et l'irritabilite du nourrisson, etaient des facteurs de prediction importants de competence ulterieure. Alors qu'une reaction maternelle plus grande, comme prevu, menait a des capacites linguistiques et sociales plus elevees, une plus grande irritabilite du nourrisson pendant des situations stressantes predisait egalement une plus grande competence linguistique et sociale expressive et receptive. Les enfants nes ayant un poids de naissance plus eleve et de plus longues gestations avaient plus tendance a etre plus irritables que ceux nes avec un poids de naissance tres faible. Les resultats suggerent differentes implications pour l'affect negatif chez les prematures qui ont eu des problemes respiratories compare aux enfants nes a terme, mais indiquent des consequences positives similaires pour la reaction maternelle verbale.

The process of parenting and the remembrance of things past

Abstract: Mothers' developing representations of the child and of caregiving are examined in light of their early attachment representations. The influence of mothers' remembrances and repetitions of the past are traced from their narrative descriptions of early childhood, to their descriptions of the emotional aspects of pregnancy and the unborn child, to their depictions of early caregiving. Three mothers were followed from pregnancy through their child's second year in a longitudinal study of attachment and parental representation. Adult Attachment Interviews and other representational interviews collected at repeated intervals during pregnancy and early infancy provide a backdrop for a discussion of the complex interplay of structure, fantasy, and affect in processes of intergenerational transmission and repetition of the past, and in the development of parental representations of the child. Patterns and modes of representation in secure and insecure mothers are contrasted. Dyads demonstrating concordance between mother and child attachment status as well as those demonstrating discordance are examined.

The Differential Effects of Family Violence on Adolescent Adjustment.

Abstract: The present study examined the effects of different types of domestic violence (i.e., being a victim of parent-child violence and witnessing interparental violence) on adolescent adjustment. The sample included a large, racially/ethnically and socioeconomically diverse group of high school students. Findings revealed that this sample experienced and witnessed high levels of family violence. Two hierarchical regression analyses were conducted with externalizing behavior problem and internalizing behavior problem scores as the outcome variables. Variables were entered in three blocks with numerous sociodemographic variables entered first as covariates, the amounts of parent-child violence and witnessing interparental violence entered in the second block, and the interaction of gender and violence variables and interaction of the two violence variables in the third. Results revealed the amounts of parent-child violence and interparental violence witnessed were significant predictors of both externalizing and internalizing behavior problems. Significant effects were also found for the interaction between parent-child violence and interparental violence. The implications of the findings are discussed.

Interactions between mothers and infants showing food refusal

Abstract: Cette etude a examine les pattems d'interaction de meres et de leurs nourrissons qui refusaient toute nourriture (N = 24) et de meres et de leurs nourrissons dans un groupe controle (N = 24) pendant la prise de nourriture et le jeu. Les observations ont revele des differences importantes entre les groupes a la fois dans le comportement maternel et dans le comportement du nourrisson. Les nourrissons du groupe de cas rejetaient la nourriture plus souvent et avaient des signaux de communication moins clairs que les nourrissons controle et les meres des nourrissons cas etaient moins sensibles, moins cooperantes et avaient plus de comportement verbal enseignant/controle que le groupe controle. Ces differences se rapportaient a la fois a la prise de nourriture et aux situations de jeu. Les resultats ont des implications pour le developpement de strategies d'intervention appropriees et efficaces pour les nourrissons refusant la nourriture.

Support networks of adolescent mothers: Effects on parenting experience and behavior

Abstract: La relation entre le soutien social et l'experience en matiere de parentage, de comportement de parentage et de symptomes psychologiques chez des meres adolescentes noires, americaines et provenant de milieux defavorises a ete etudiee. Les reseaux de soutien plus etendus etaient associes a un meilleur ajustement maternel sauf lorsque les individus offrant leur soutien etaient aussi des sources de conflit. Les propres meres des jeunes femmes etaient les pourvoyeuses de soutien les plus importantes, et le nombre de sortes differentes de soutien que la grand-mere offrait etait lie positivement a la qualite du comportement de parentage de l'adolescente, mais negativement a son experience du parentage. Le fait d'avoir plus d'amis appartenant au reseau etait lie a un meilleur comportement de parentage, mais le fait d'avoir plus de freres et soeurs dans le reseau etait lie a un comportement de parentage apauvri ainsi qu'a plus de symptomes psychologiques. Alors que la plupart des jeunes femmes s'appuyaient sur des partenaires mâles afin qu'ils les soutiennent, aucune variable liee au fait que les pourvoyeurs de soutien soient des partenaires mâles n'etait liee a l'ajustement maternel.

Altering withdrawn and intrusive interaction behaviors of depressed mothers

Abstract: Un entrainement a l'interaction a ete donne a 44 meres deprimees qui avaient soit un style d'interaction replie ou un style d'interaction importun avec leur nourrisson. L'on a donne aux meres repliees et importunes l'instruction d'imiter le comportement de leur nourrisson ou de retenir l'attention de leur nourrisson. Les resultats ont suggere que le type specifique d'entrainement a l'interaction pour le type specifique de mere deprimee (imitation pour les meres importunes et attraction d'attention pour les meres repliees) ameliorait considerablement leurs comportements d'interaction avec leur nourrisson.

Parent-Child Separation: A Comparison of Maternally and Paternally Separated Children in Military Families.

Abstract: In recent times children have adapted to parental separation as parents balance the demands of family and job responsibilities. While job-related separation affect many in today's society, no population is affected more than children of military families. Changes in the Armed Services have resulted in more children being separated from their active-duty mothers. Although studies have documented the relationship between father-absence and a child's psychosocial development, little is known about mother-child separation in military families. This study compares the psychosocial functioning of children who have experienced extended maternal separation with that exhibited by children who have separated from their fathers. Implications for social work practice are addressed.

Social and individual determinants of infant attachment security and disorganization

Abstract: Le but de cette etude etait d'evaluer les antecedents individuels et sociaux de la securite de l'attachement et de la desorganisation de l'attachement de nourrissons, evaluee par la situation inhabituelle Des observations a partir de deux etudes longitudinales avec un emploi du temps d'evaluation parallele donnant un echantillon total de 88 paires nourrisson-mere constitua la base de donnees de l'etude L'organisation comportementale du nourrisson, en matiere de capacite a s'orienter et de reglement de l'etat, et la sensibilite matemelle, evalues a plusieurs reprises pendant la premiere annee de l'enfant, ont ete utilises pour predire la securite de l'attachement enfant-mere et le statut de desorganisation de strategies de comportement d'attachement a l'âge de 12 mois Alors que la securite de l'attachement etait associee de maniere significative avec la seule sensibilite matemelle, le statut de desorganisation n'etait predit que par l'organisation comportementale du nourrisson Les resultats sont examines pour ce qui conceme des suppositions specifiques sur la contribution individuelle et sociale au developpement de l'attachement enfant-mere dans le cadre de la representation de l'attachement matemel

Relating the adolescent mother-child relationship to preschool outcomes

Abstract: Deux domaines de risque eventuel lie aux resultats cognitifs-linguistiques d'enfants en âge prescolaire de meres adolescentes ont fait 1' objet de cette etude: (1) les traits interactifs de la relation mere-enfant, et (2) les aspects du contexte demographique du parentage. 69 meres adolescentes et leurs enfants ont participe aux evaluations quand les enfants avaient 13, 20, 30 et 44 mois. Les resultats indiquent que le developpement cognitif-linguistique des enfants de meres adolescentes etait affecte a la fois par la relation mere-enfant et par l'index cumulatif de risque demographique. De facon precise, l'affect maternel positif, la reciprocite verbale mere-enfant, l'harmonie interactive mere-enfant, et le risque demographique cumulatif ont tous contribue a expliquer les difficultes dans le fonctionnement cognitif et linguistique prescolaire chez les enfants de meres adolescentes.

The influence of early mother—child interaction on preschool cognitive/linguistic outcomes in a high-social-risk group

Abstract: In this paper, elements of early mother—child interaction are related to later cognitive and linguistic outcomes in a sample of 53 high social risk mothers and their preschoolers. Mother—child interaction was observed longitudinally when the children were 13 and 20 months old. Multiple regression analyses were used to predict cognitive and linguistic outcomes at 3 and 5 years from measures of early mother—child interaction. The results indicated that the quality of early mother—child interaction was a significant predictor of preschool cognitive and linguistic outcomes. This was shown to be true regardless of the contribution of the mother's IQ.

A treatment outcome study of bereavement groups for children

Abstract: An empirical study of the effectiveness of an eight-week children's bereavement psychotherapy group was undertaken. Children, aged 7–11, who had a parent and/or sibling die were initially assigned to either a treatment group or a waiting list control group and followed over an eight-week period. Participation in the experimental group was associated with a significant decrease in symptomatology, as assessed by multiple measures using multiple sources. Despite a small sample, the intervention was sufficiently powerful to suggest the use of short-term group therapy to help children cope with the death of a parent and/or sibling.

Male victims of child sexual abuse.

Abstract: Despite the increased attention the subject of child sexual abuse has received in recent years, rarely has much consideration been given to the boys and adolescent males who are the victims of such abuse. That young girls are consistently the clear majority of sexual abuse victims is not disputed, however the extent to which they are the majority is in question. A review of existing literature has indicated that one of the leading factors for this inadvertent negligence in presenting a truer picture of the magnitude of the problem for male victims concerns the area of under-reporting of the incidence of abuse of young males. Under-reporting has served to give a false sense of the scope of child sexual abuse, particularly for male children. Many societal and methodological factors contribute to under-reporting. Reasons for the discrepancy in reporting abuse will be presented and implications for practice will be discussed.

Preparation, support, and satisfaction of adoptive families in agency and independent adoptions

Abstract: Information gathered from over 1000 adoptions in the fourth year of a prospective study of adoptions finds satisfaction levels to be quite high, with those families adopting through private agencies to feel best prepared and satisfied. Differences by adoption auspice are detailed and discussed.

Intervention for victims of child sexual abuse: An evaluation of the children's advocacy model

Abstract: Interagency coordination is a strategy for reducing trauma experienced by children during investigations of alleged sexual abuse. This report examines characteristics and outcomes of clients participating in three programs using the Children's Advocacy Model of interagency coordination. Implications for intervention with victims of child sexual abuse are discussed.

The effects of immigration on children in the Mexican-American community

Abstract: Effects of immigration on Mexican-American immigrant children and families can be lifelong. This article describes conditions contributing to immigration and its effects on poor families, describing and illustrating developmental disruptions, and emphasizing effects on school participation and family dynamics.

Ethnic and gender differences in parental expectations and life stress

Abstract: This paper presents ethnic and gender differences in reported stressful life events (SLE) in a sample of 70 Southeast Asian (SEA) adolescents. The ranking of five SLEs with the highest percentage reportingSome orA Lot of stress showed differences in qualitative life events among Cambodian, Hmong, and Vietnamese adolescents. Cambodians rankedstrict discipline in social life by parents as most stressful. Hmong and Vietnamese adolescents reporteddoing house chores andacademic pressure to do well, respectively, as most stressful. In other stressor domains, academic performance (i.e.studying for a test, personal pressure to get good grades) and parental expectations (i.e.high expectations from parents to do well, fear of failure to meet family expectations) show similarity across ethnic groups. T-tests show that female adolescents reported higher stress on eight out of 10 life events females than males.Personal pressure to get good grades had the highest percentage mean for females. For males,worrying about where to live or getting a job after graduation were the two most endorsed stressful life events. Important implications for social work practice in schools and with parents in SEA families are discussed. Further research into parental involvement and family distress is also recommended.

Early childhood co‐sleeping: Parent‐child and parent‐infant nighttime interactions

Abstract: Cette etude a examine les interactions parent-enfant pendant le debut du sommeil et les reveils durant la nuit chez un echantillon d'enfants d'âge prescolaire d'une petite ville rurale. Le role du co-sommeil par rapport aux habitudes de sommeil et aux reveils la nuit a ete examine en utilisant des rapports etablis par les parents des patterns actuels et passes. Les resultats revelerent que les Dormeurs Solitaires s'engageaient dans des routines plus complexes au moment du sommeil, et faisaient preuve d'un attachement plus long et plus fort a des objects de securite et a des aides au sommeil que les Co-Dormeurs. Les facteurs precurseurs au co-sommeil dans la petite enfance etaient les suivants: l'allaitement, l'allaitement nocturne dans le lit des parents, et le retour au sommeil dans le lit des parents.

History of sexual abuse and parental alcohol misuse: Risk, outcomes and protective factors in adolescents

Abstract: This study examined the school performance, suicidal involvement, disordered eating behaviors, pregnancy risk and chemical use of teenagers with a history of sexual abuse or parental alcohol misuse and found that they had higher rates of these adverse outcomes than among a comparison group of teenagers without such background risk factors. Adolescents with dual-risk background reported higher levels of suicide risk, disordered eating, sexual behaviors and chemical abuse than teenagers with only one background risk factor. Among index group members, protective factors against these adverse outcomes included a high degree of religiosity and the ability to discuss problems with family or friends. Risk factors that increased the likelihood of adverse outcomes included depression, perceived substance use in school and worries about family financial security.

Suicide ideation, attempts and abuse among incarcerated gang and nongang delinquents

Abstract: The present study examines suicide ideation and attempts as well as reported levels of physical and sexual abuse among gang and nongang-involved incarcerated youth. The self-report survey data were collected from 334 males and 61 females who were incarcerated in Nevada youth correctional facilities in the summer of 1994. Over half (58.3 percent) of the males and nearly half (45.2 percent) of the females reported being gang members. Surprisingly high rates of abuse (more than 70 percent for both physical and sexual abuse) were found among the incarcerated females of this study. Females reported significantly more suicide attempts and were more likely to have been physically and sexually abused than males. Nongang males reported significantly more suicide attempts and were more likely to report sexual abuse than gang-involved males. Among the gang-involved delinquents, females reported significantly more suicide attempts than males. In addition, gang members who reported sexual abuse were more likely to have higher levels of suicide ideationand to have attempted suicide. Implications for youth correction specialists and social workers are discussed.

Depressed mothers' and their infants' interactions with nondepressed partners

Abstract: Twenty depressed adolescent mothers were videotaped interacting with their own infant and with the infant of a nondepressed mother. In addition. nondepressed mothers were videotaped with their own infant as well as with the infant of a depressed mother. Depressed mothers showed less facial expressivity than nondepressed mothers and received less optimal interaction rating scale scores (a sum- mary score for state, physical activity, head orientation, gaze, silence during gaze aversion, facial expres- sions, vocalizations, infantized behavior, contingent responsivity, and gameplaying). This occurred in- dependent of whether they were interacting with their own infant versus an infant of a nondepressed mother, suggesting that depressed mothers display less optimal behaviors to infants in general. The infants of both depressed and nondepressed mothers received better head orientation and summary ratings when they were interacting with another mother, perhaps because the other mother was more novel. Infants of nondepressed mothers, in particular, had better summary ratings (state, physical activity, head onenta- tion, gaze, facial expressions, fussiness, and vocalizations) than the infants of depressed mothers when interacting with depressed mothers. Thus, it may be thathfants of nondepressed mothers are generally better interaction partners than infants of depressed mothers. Another related possibility is that they per- sist longer in trying to elicit a response from mothers less responsive than their own, given that they have learned to expect a response to their behavior.

Psychiatric diagnoses in infancy : A comparison

Abstract: Cette etude a examine la specificite de la classification diagnostique de deux systemes standardises: DSM-IV et la Classification Diagnostique: Zero a Trois. Un echantillon de 82 nourrissons âges de 1 a 24 mois souffrant de divers symptomes infantiles psychogeniques et fonctionnels a ete diagnostique en appliquant les deux systemes. Pour DC: 0-3, (la Classification Diagnostique sur les Troubles en matiere de Developpement et de Sante Mentale de la Petite Enfance) cette etude presente des resultats pour ce qui concerne la specificite des patterns de symptomes. Douze des 27 symptomes, specifiques des troubles chez la petite enfance, ont presente une haute specificite et permettaient une nette distinction pour les entites diagnostiques. Ces symptomes etaient differencies pour la frequence et la severite de la frequence pour chaque diagnostique. Dans l'echantillon, les diagnostiques DSM-IV et DC: 0-3 ont ete compares. De plus, 13 points de donnees biographiques-biologiques ont ete recueillis, par exemple, un SES bas associe a de tres jeunes meres ou a des meres plus âgees a abouti a un risque de troubles psychiatriques plus eleve dans la petite enfance. Les donnees confirment que l'utilisation de DC: 0-3 durant la petite enfance peut etre utile par rapport aux routines journalieres et a la recherche en augmentant la portee d'entites diagnostiques clairement definies.