Exploring Family Functioning and Transition Probabilities: An Examination into the Attachment Biobehavioral Catchup Intervention

Introduction

Early childhood adversity presents a significant risk for enduring negative impacts on both health and development. Prior research has underscored the potential of early interventions to serve as a protective buffer, mitigating the detrimental effects of adversity on children. However, much remains unknown regarding how caregiver interventions influence the functioning of entire familial units. This presentation expands upon existing literature by examining the effects of an evidence-based intervention, Attachment Biobehavioral Catchup (ABC), on family functioning trajectories. Specifically, this exploratory study investigates the transition of families in terms of their overall functioning from baseline to post-ABC intervention. Hypotheses for this research included:

Hypothesis 1. Qualitatively and quantitatively distinct family functioning subgroups will emerge.

Hypothesis 2. Families’ classification within a given subgroup will change over time.

Methods

Families included in this study received ABC services as part of a state-wide early childhood initiative. To be eligible for services, families must have demonstrated risk for adversity based on clinician report. After enrollment, caregivers received the ABC intervention and completed the North Carolina Family Assessment Scale-General (NCFAS-G) at baseline (T1) and program exit (T2). In total, 394 caregivers were enrolled in the study. A multi-step analytic process was implemented. Latent class and transition analysis (LCA and LTA) were applied examining families’ scores on the NCFAS-G subdomains. Subdomains examined include environment; parental capabilities; family interactions; family safety; child wellbeing; social/community life; and self-sufficiency. Scores on the NCFAS-G can range from a -3 (indicating a serious problem) to a +2 (indicating a clear strength).

Results

Caregivers completing the intervention were primarily identified as the Mother (90%); White (82%), and non-Hispanic/Latino (57%). Mean scores and standard deviations from T1 and T2, respectively, were:

Environment: .50 (SD 1.10); 1.07 (SD 1.06)

Parental Capabilities: .45 (SD 1.03); 1.24 (SD .87)

Family Interactions: .35 (SD 1.06); 1.21 (SD .97)

Family Safety: .97 (SD 1.02); 1.58 (SD .78)

Child Wellbeing: .57 (SD .87); 1.30 (SD.81 SD)

Social/Community Life: .40 (SD .90); 1.10 (SD .99)

Self-Sufficiency: .15 (SD 1.26); .96 (SD 1.70)

Health: .74 (SD .82); 1.23 (SD .83)

LTA unveiled three distinct family subgroups at both time points, conceptualized as follows: functioning-deficit (T1 n= 144; T2 n= 59); functioning-adequately (T1 n= 194; T2 n= 129); and functioning-thriving (T1 n= 45; T2 n= 195). Families within the functioning-deficit subgroup displayed probabilities of transitioning to the functioning-adequate subgroup (0.57) and the functioning-thriving subgroup (0.09). Additionally, favorable improvements in functioning were observed among families initially classified in the functioning-adequate subgroup (.69). Overall, thriving-functioning families were likely to remain in that group.

Conclusion

The findings indicated that families initially categorized as poor functioning demonstrated a heightened likelihood of transitioning to a different classification upon program completion, implying potential trajectories toward enhanced family functioning following participation in ABC. While exploratory, these results suggest that ABC may provide supplementary protective effects that extend beyond enhancements in caregiver skills or improved child well-being. Moreover, these findings suggest an enhanced potential for caregiver interventions, warranting further investigation into how such services might influence various aspects of family dynamics.