This article highlights how the many important contributions of John R. Z. Abela's research program can inform the development and implementation of interventions for preventing depression in youth. Abela provided evidence of multiple vulnerabilities to depression including cognitive (e.g., inferential style, dysfunctional attitudes, ruminative…

Personality disorders (PDs) arise from core psychopathology of interpersonal relationships and understanding of self and others. The distorted representations of self and others, as well as unhealthy relationships that characterize persons with various PDs, indicate the possibility that persons with PDs have insecure attachment. Insecure…

This doctoral research paper reviews the empirical literature examining intergenerational transmission of attachment styles. The relationship between adult caregivers' internal representations of attachment as measured by the Adult Attachment Interview and their infants' attachment status as measured by the Strange Situation procedure has been…

Evaluated the enduring effectiveness of a skill-based training program to enhance maternal sensitivity toward infants between six and nine months of age. Found that more of the toddlers whose mothers participated in the intervention were securely attached than toddlers from the control group dyads. In the third year, evidence of sustained effects…

Examined the effects of a sensitivity intervention program on the Parenting by lower-class mothers of irritable infants. Found that intervention group mothers were significantly more responsive, stimulating, visually attentive, and controlling of their infant's behavior than were control-group mothers. Intervention infants had higher scores than…

Noting that the protective factors that support positive child development despite adversity are becoming better understood, this workbook discusses the importance of encouraging resilience in preschool children living in challenging circumstances and shows how to evaluate resilience through the use of checklists and background information. The…

Noting that the protective factors that support positive development despite adversity are becoming better understood, this workbook discusses the importance of encouraging resilience in school-aged children living in challenging circumstances and shows how to evaluate resilience through the use of checklists and background information. The…