Burke et al. (1987) |
Maternal role preparation: A program using sensory integration, infant-mother attachment, and occupational behavior perspectives |
The Maternal Role Prevention (MRP) project demonstrates an innovative occupational therapy approach to increase maternal competence in first-time mothers. |
Four-session program provides women with discussions, demonstrations, hands-on, and written materials covering topics related to their babies (attachment, sensory systems, developmental skills). |
The program represents an opportunity for occupational therapists to combine the theory and practice of sensory integration with other compatible treatment perspectives and approaches. |
Greenspan (1996) |
The Development of the Ego: Biological and Environmental Specificity in the Psychopathological Developmental Process and the Selection and Construction of Ego Defenses |
Differences in early sensory processing, integration and differentiation, contribute to ego characteristics, deficits in ego function, and the tendency to employ certain defenses. |
The article develops methods to evaluate sensory and affective processing in different clinical populations, as well as the manipulation of experience in animal studies to investigate neuroanatomical and neurochemical patterns related to differences in the early sensory environment. |
Verbal and affective vulnerabilities can be associated with thought disorders and obsessive-compulsive patterns, especially when combined with environments that tend to confuse affective meanings at the behavioral-gestural and symbolic levels. |
Weatherston et al. (2002) |
Becoming Whole: Combining Infant Mental Health and Occupational Therapy on Behalf of a Toddler with Sensory Integration Difficulties and his Family |
Strengthen the development and well-being of infants and toddlers within safe and nurturing parent-child relationships. |
The article presents fundamental beliefs and strategies that guide the practice of children's mental health and occupational therapy. |
The study highlights the importance of strengthening the attachment relationship between parents and children during the first years and the importance of the practice of child mental health and occupational therapy in this process. |
Salokorpi et al. (2002) |
Is early occupational therapy in extremely pre-term infants of benefit in the long run? |
To examine the effect of occupational therapy based on sensory integration (SI) and neurological development in extremely low birth weight infants. (ELBW). |
126 children were grouped as matched pairs based on certain Developmental risk scores assessed at the age of 3 months. The intervention children had a 6-month period of occupational therapy from the corrected age of 6±12 months. |
The follow-up showed that the social development of the intervention children was significantly better at the age of 12 months, but at the age of 2 years the groups had equal developmental scores on neurological, neuropsychological, and speech therapy assessments. The differences in neuropsychological and attachment outcome could not be explained by the high number of dropouts. |
Glass (2002) |
Development of the visual system and implications for early intervention |
Attachment and bonding are mediated by eye contact. |
The purpose of this article is to summarize the early development of the visual system within the context of the other sensory systems and premature birth and to relate this information to an address for early intervention. |
Eye contact plays a crucial role in the development of attachment and bonding between parents and children. Research shows that eye contact allows children to develop important skills, such as the ability to negotiate physical space and learn to read. Even from early childhood, vision plays a dual role in social communication and language, both from the point of view of the speaker and the listener. |
Weiss (2005) |
Haptic perception and the psychosocial functioning of preterm, low birth weight infants |
Exposure of the premature and low birth weight infant to stimulating touch in the first months of life can improve neuropsychological outcomes and interact with other sensory perceptions. |
Argument for the potential value of interventions that provide an enriched haptic experience specific to premature infants, an experience that can serve as a basis for subsequent psychosocial functioning. |
These differential haptic perceptions predict psychosocial outcomes and whether various dimensions of touch facilitate or inhibit preterm infants' development and psychosocial functioning. They also influence and interact with other sensory perceptions to influence child outcomes. |
Hendricks & McPherson (2010) |
Early stages of musical development: Relationships between sensory integration dysfunction, parental influence, and musical disposition of a three-year-old 'maestro' |
The case of a three-year-old boy, who suffers from the neurological disorder Sensory Integration Dysfunction, shows how the types of interactions between parents and children facilitated a high level of participation in music from an early age. |
Case study. Parent diaries, emails, interviews and observations of the child at home were analyzed to map musical development. |
The results document the high level of attention and support that the child received from his parents and suggest a prolongation of the period of “communicative musicality” that typifies the mother-child bond in infancy. |
Cohen (2011)Cohen, S. L. (2011). Coming to our senses: the application of somatic psychology to group psychotherapy. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 61(3), 396-413.
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Coming to our senses: The application of somatic psychology to group psychotherapy |
Neurobiology, sensory processing and attachment theories help us understand how the sense of self develops somatically. |
The principles of somatic therapies are applied to the practice of group therapy to work with attachment, disorders, transference impasse and trauma. |
The material helps group members access their internal experiences. It shows how somatic integration can be effective when working with attachment disorders, transference impasse and trauma. |
Landi et al. (2011)Landi, N., Montoya, J., Kober, H., Rutherford, H. J., Mencl, W. E., Worhunsky, P. D., Potenza, M. N., & Mayes, L. C. (2011). Maternal neural responses to infant cries and faces: relationships with substance use. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2(32), 1-13.
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Maternal neural responses to infant cries and faces: Relationships with substance use |
Examines the relationship between maternal neural responses to infant cries and faces and substance use. |
Functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine the neural response to infant emotional cues (faces and cries) in mothers who use substances compared to mothers who do not use substances. In response to both faces (of different emotional valence) and screams (of different levels of distress). |
Substance use can decrease the mother's ability to respond appropriately to the baby's needs, including sensory input. Infant stimuli may be less perceptible to mothers who use substances, which may negatively affect attachment development. |
Tirella et al. (2012)Tirella, L. G., Tickle-Degnen, L., Miller, L. C., & Bedell, G. (2012). Parent strategies for addressing the needs of their newly adopted child. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 32(1), 97-110.
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Parent Strategies for Addressing the Needs of Their Newly Adopted Child |
Reflections of 9 parents about strengths, challenges, and strategies in raising newborn toddlers adopted from another country. |
Completed standardized assessments that measure child's social-emotional development, sensory processing, and parenting stress. |
Adoptive families faced sensory challenges with their adopted children due to a lack of stimulation in orphanages. Adaptation and positive approach strategies were related to marital strength, family and community support. Early intervention and weekly therapy helped reduce the family's stress. |
Whitcomb et al. (2015)Whitcomb, D. A., Carrasco, R. C., Neuman, A., & Kloos, H. (2015). Correlational research to examine the relation between attachment and sensory modulation in young children. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 69(4), 6904220020p1.
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Correlational Research to Examine the Relation Between Attachment and Sensory Modulation in Young Children |
This study investigated whether there is a relationship between attachment and sensory modulation in young children. |
68 children aged 3 to 6 years recruited through the local community. Caregivers were asked to complete a standardized behavioral inventory of parent-child and sensory modulation patterns. |
The results revealed modest correlations between attachment and sensory modulation. These findings support a relationship between attachment and sensory modulation should be considered when evaluating and planning treatment for children with problems. |
Rita et al. (2017) |
Child and family-related predictors of psychological outcomes in children adopted from abroad; what is the role of caregiver time? |
They study whether adopted children and family-related factors are associated with later psychological problems. |
1,265 children who arrived in Finland before starting school. |
The study found that caregiver attention time is an important factor in the psychological outcomes of adopted children. Additionally, age, gender, clinical symptoms (sensory processing problems), and family socioeconomic status also influence later behavioral problems. |
Germain (2018) |
Finding the Body of the Mind: Integrating Occupational Therapy’s Theories of Mutual Regulation and Dysregulation into Psychotherapy |
Search for studies that investigate the relationships between sensory processing and attachment patterns. |
Theoretical analysis of sensory integration and sensory processing for the understanding and communication with parents of mutual dysregulation in relation to attachment patterns. |
When integrated with psychodynamic formulations, a framework emerges that seeks to help parents identify signs of dysregulation within themselves and their children. |
Walbam (2019) |
Integrating Connection. A Mixed-Methods Exploration of Sensory Processing and Attachment |
The association between sensory processing disorder and attachment by examining primary caregivers' perceptions of the attachment relationship. |
Mixed method, 24 primary caregivers completed 3 questionnaires: a demographic profile, a sensory processing profile, and an attachment-related questionnaire. Of those 24, 12 were also interviewed qualitatively. |
The findings suggest that there is a correlation between sensory processing and attachment, according to measurement scores, specifically with 3 sensory processing subscales; tactile sensitivity, auditory filtering and responsiveness to stimuli. |
Branjerdporn et al. (2020) |
Prenatal Predictors of Maternal-infant Attachment |
To examine prenatal predictors of maternal-infant attachment that may provide potential avenues for assessment and intervention by occupational therapists. |
60 women were evaluated during pregnancy and within one year after delivery in a cohort study. Independent t tests, correlations, and multivariable regression models were used. |
Low-threshold maternal sensory patterns, more insecure adult attachment, and poorer quality of maternal-fetal attachment were correlated with less optimal maternal-infant attachment. Prenatal attachment quality was the best predictor of overall postnatal attachment in multivariate regression models. |
Branjerdporn et al. (2021b) |
Maternal-Fetal Attachment: Associations with Maternal Sensory Processing, Adult Attachment, Distress and Perinatal Loss |
The study focuses on the relationship between maternal sensory processing, maternal-fetal attachment, adult attachment, stress and perinatal loss. |
Cross-sectional correlational study in pregnant women who completed questionnaires on: sensory processing, maternal-fetal attachment and adult attachment. Additionally, information on perinatal loss and perceived stress were collected. |
Significant correlations were found between greater maternal-fetal attachment and more effective sensory processing, as well as lower stress and greater psychological well-being. Significant correlations were also found between effective sensory processing and greater adult attachment security. |
Branjerdporn et al. (2021a) |
Infant sensory patterns: associations with previous perinatal loss, maternal-fetal attachment and postnatal maternal sensory patterns |
Infant sensory patterns and their associations with previous perinatal loss, maternal-fetal attachment, and postnatal maternal sensory patterns. |
Prospective study with 57 women, surveyed during and after pregnancy. The relationship between prior perinatal loss, maternal sensory processing, and infant sensory patterns was investigated using chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis. |
These findings are the first to suggest that prior perinatal loss, poorer quality of maternal-fetal attachment, and levels of maternal postnatal sensory patterns represent risk factors for infant sensory patterns that are “more than typical.” |