STEADY Study – Children Ages 2-3

STUDY BASICS

Are you the mother of a child who is 3 years old or will soon be 3? Are you often stressed and feel like you are on an emotional roller coaster, with a history of troubled relationships? If so, you and your child may be able to take part in a research study to learn more about the link between a mother’s mental health and a child’s ability to control their own emotions. Compensation provided.

STUDY PURPOSE

The relationship between a mother and child can have long-lasting effects on a child’s health and well-being. The purpose of this study is to help researchers learn more about how a mother’s mental health, life experience, and parenting styles affect a child’s ability to control their own emotions. Researchers hope their findings will lead to a better understanding of the link between a mother’s mental health and a child’s development, and may lead to improved treatments for children at risk of developing mental health problems in the future.

COULD THIS STUDY BE RIGHT FOR YOUR CHILD?

• Age 3 or will soon turn 3
• No diagnosed developmental disabilities
• Biological mothers: - Have difficulty controlling emotion - Ages 18 and up - Have sole or joint custody of their child

WHAT PARTICIPANTS CAN EXPECT

After a brief telephone screening, you will have a 2-6 hour long in-person visit to find out if you are a good fit for the study. You will be asked to complete forms, interviews, and a behavioral questionnaire about your child. If you are eligible to participate, you and your child will take part in 4 sessions, each lasting about 2 hours and spaced 4 months apart. At each visit, you and your child will wear a device to record heart rate while your child completes several tasks related to his or her attention, control, emotions, and waiting skills. Parts of the sessions will be videotaped. Some mothers may be invited to participate in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Training, which involves attendance at a weekly group session lasting 2.5 hours over a 48-week period.