Objectives. To determine appropriate components and contents of an online peer support interventi... more Objectives. To determine appropriate components and contents of an online peer support intervention for young adolescents and to evaluate intervention processes, perceived benefits, and satisfaction with the intervention.Methods. Three months of support were provided through synchronous chat, e-mail exchange, instant messaging, and bulletin boards. Online support group sessions were facilitated by trained peer mentors (older youth/young adults with asthma and
Salivary cortisol is becoming more commonly utilized as a biologic marker of stress in observatio... more Salivary cortisol is becoming more commonly utilized as a biologic marker of stress in observational studies and intervention research. However, its use with infants (12 months of age or younger) is less widespread and poses some special challenges to researchers. In order to decide on the most suitable collection procedure for salivary cortisol in infants, a number of criteria should be considered. This article will aid investigators interested in integrating salivary cortisol measurement into their research studies by presenting (1) an overview of the patterns of cortisol secretion in infancy including the development of diurnal rhythm and response to stress; (2) a comparison of the most commonly used approaches for collecting salivary cortisol samples in infants including cotton rope, syringe aspiration technique, filter paper, hydrocellulose microsponge, and the Salimetrics children's swab; (3) a discussion of the factors contributing to heightened cortisol variability in in...
This study examines challenges faced by refugee new parents from Africa in Canada. Refugee new pa... more This study examines challenges faced by refugee new parents from Africa in Canada. Refugee new parents from Zimbabwe (n = 36) and Sudan (n = 36) were interviewed individually about challenges of coping concurrently with migration and new parenthood and completed loneliness and trauma/stress measures. Four group interviews with refugee new parents (n = 30) were subsequently conducted. Participants reported isolation, loneliness, and stress linked to migration and new parenthood. New gender roles evoked marital discord. Barriers to health-related services included language. Compounding challenges included discrimination, time restrictions for financial support, prolonged immigration and family reunification processes, uncoordinated government services, and culturally insensitive policies. The results reinforce the need for research on influences of refugees' stressful experiences on parenting and potential role of social support in mitigating effects of stress among refugee new parents. Language services should be integrated within health systems to facilitate provision of information, affirmation, and emotional support to refugee new parents. Our study reinforces the need for culturally appropriate services that mobilize and sustain support in health and health related (e.g., education, employment, immigration) policies.
Maternal depression, especially in the early years of child development, affects parenting behavi... more Maternal depression, especially in the early years of child development, affects parenting behaviors that have been repeatedly linked to poor outcomes in children. However, recurrent maternal depression may be a more potent predictor of parenting than depression that only occurs in the early years. Longitudinal population data were used to examine the influence of depression in the first 2 years postpartum alone or in combination with recurrent episodes of depression on self-reported parenting behaviors known to influence children's development. Growth curve hierarchical linear modeling was used to examine the relationships among depression in the early years, recurrent depression, and parenting during children's first 12 years of life. Findings revealed that 63% of the depressed mothers reported recurrent episodes of depression. Self-reported parenting behaviors characterized by positive forms of discipline, firmness, and consistency were related to recurrent episodes of depression, whereas warmth and nurturant parenting behaviors were unaffected by recurrent episodes.
Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 2011
Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) reduces maternal–infant interaction quality, stresses inf... more Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) reduces maternal–infant interaction quality, stresses infants and mothers, and is linked to adverse child social–emotional and cognitive developmental outcomes. Objectives: A hypothesised mechanism for these observed relationships is the stress-related over-activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and resultant altered cortisol patterns. While cortisol levels of mothers and infants are strongly correlated, environmental, maternal, infant and maternal–infant
Background There is clear evidence that postpartum depression is a significant risk factor for po... more Background There is clear evidence that postpartum depression is a significant risk factor for poor child development outcomes, primarily through reduced sensitivity in maternal caregiving. However, neurobiological changes that support the development of maternal sensitivity begin during the prenatal period in order to prepare a mother to be sensitive to the needs of her infant immediately after birth. Prenatal depression may disrupt these developmental processes, which results in lower quality postnatal caregiving. The aim of the current study was to determine whether maternal social support from a romantic partner improves the quality of early mother-infant relationships via reductions in prenatal maternal depression. Method Participants were drawn from an ongoing longitudinal study of maternal distress during pregnancy (Fetal Programming study), which recruited pregnant women from the community in the first 22 weeks of pregnancy. Maternal depression and social support were assess...
The objectives of this study were to identify support needs, support resources, and support barri... more The objectives of this study were to identify support needs, support resources, and support barriers for young adolescents with asthma and allergies and to describe preferences for an accessible support intervention. Adolescents (N = 57) completed a survey questionnaire. Eight young adolescents, 10 parents, and 5 older adolescents participated in separate group interviews. Young adolescents' challenges included transition to self-care, balancing restrictions with safety, social isolation, and loneliness. Young teens recommended supportive networks facilitated by older adolescent peers and wanted to meet with other young adolescents living with asthma and allergies online and share information, advice, and encouragement with them.
The quality of the relationships that parents, particularly mothers, have with their children is ... more The quality of the relationships that parents, particularly mothers, have with their children is a potent predictor of children’s future development. Recent research suggests that mothers of preschool-age children exposed to domestic violence may be more sensitive and responsive to their children than other parents. This heightened sensitivity and responsiveness in relationships may be key to the successful development of
... dation and by the National Health Research and Development Program Mas-ters of Science Fellow... more ... dation and by the National Health Research and Development Program Mas-ters of Science Fellowship received by Nicole Letourneau, under ... between health professionals' and parents' perceptions as affecting the practice of FCC (Rosenbaum, King, & Cadman, 1992; Webb ...
Healthy child development has been identified as one of the key determinants of health and resili... more Healthy child development has been identified as one of the key determinants of health and resiliency in adulthood. This article reports on the results of two pilot studies of randomized controlled trials of parent support interventions aimed at improving the parent-child relationship and ...
Objectives. To determine appropriate components and contents of an online peer support interventi... more Objectives. To determine appropriate components and contents of an online peer support intervention for young adolescents and to evaluate intervention processes, perceived benefits, and satisfaction with the intervention.Methods. Three months of support were provided through synchronous chat, e-mail exchange, instant messaging, and bulletin boards. Online support group sessions were facilitated by trained peer mentors (older youth/young adults with asthma and
Salivary cortisol is becoming more commonly utilized as a biologic marker of stress in observatio... more Salivary cortisol is becoming more commonly utilized as a biologic marker of stress in observational studies and intervention research. However, its use with infants (12 months of age or younger) is less widespread and poses some special challenges to researchers. In order to decide on the most suitable collection procedure for salivary cortisol in infants, a number of criteria should be considered. This article will aid investigators interested in integrating salivary cortisol measurement into their research studies by presenting (1) an overview of the patterns of cortisol secretion in infancy including the development of diurnal rhythm and response to stress; (2) a comparison of the most commonly used approaches for collecting salivary cortisol samples in infants including cotton rope, syringe aspiration technique, filter paper, hydrocellulose microsponge, and the Salimetrics children's swab; (3) a discussion of the factors contributing to heightened cortisol variability in in...
This study examines challenges faced by refugee new parents from Africa in Canada. Refugee new pa... more This study examines challenges faced by refugee new parents from Africa in Canada. Refugee new parents from Zimbabwe (n = 36) and Sudan (n = 36) were interviewed individually about challenges of coping concurrently with migration and new parenthood and completed loneliness and trauma/stress measures. Four group interviews with refugee new parents (n = 30) were subsequently conducted. Participants reported isolation, loneliness, and stress linked to migration and new parenthood. New gender roles evoked marital discord. Barriers to health-related services included language. Compounding challenges included discrimination, time restrictions for financial support, prolonged immigration and family reunification processes, uncoordinated government services, and culturally insensitive policies. The results reinforce the need for research on influences of refugees' stressful experiences on parenting and potential role of social support in mitigating effects of stress among refugee new parents. Language services should be integrated within health systems to facilitate provision of information, affirmation, and emotional support to refugee new parents. Our study reinforces the need for culturally appropriate services that mobilize and sustain support in health and health related (e.g., education, employment, immigration) policies.
Maternal depression, especially in the early years of child development, affects parenting behavi... more Maternal depression, especially in the early years of child development, affects parenting behaviors that have been repeatedly linked to poor outcomes in children. However, recurrent maternal depression may be a more potent predictor of parenting than depression that only occurs in the early years. Longitudinal population data were used to examine the influence of depression in the first 2 years postpartum alone or in combination with recurrent episodes of depression on self-reported parenting behaviors known to influence children's development. Growth curve hierarchical linear modeling was used to examine the relationships among depression in the early years, recurrent depression, and parenting during children's first 12 years of life. Findings revealed that 63% of the depressed mothers reported recurrent episodes of depression. Self-reported parenting behaviors characterized by positive forms of discipline, firmness, and consistency were related to recurrent episodes of depression, whereas warmth and nurturant parenting behaviors were unaffected by recurrent episodes.
Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 2011
Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) reduces maternal–infant interaction quality, stresses inf... more Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) reduces maternal–infant interaction quality, stresses infants and mothers, and is linked to adverse child social–emotional and cognitive developmental outcomes. Objectives: A hypothesised mechanism for these observed relationships is the stress-related over-activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and resultant altered cortisol patterns. While cortisol levels of mothers and infants are strongly correlated, environmental, maternal, infant and maternal–infant
Background There is clear evidence that postpartum depression is a significant risk factor for po... more Background There is clear evidence that postpartum depression is a significant risk factor for poor child development outcomes, primarily through reduced sensitivity in maternal caregiving. However, neurobiological changes that support the development of maternal sensitivity begin during the prenatal period in order to prepare a mother to be sensitive to the needs of her infant immediately after birth. Prenatal depression may disrupt these developmental processes, which results in lower quality postnatal caregiving. The aim of the current study was to determine whether maternal social support from a romantic partner improves the quality of early mother-infant relationships via reductions in prenatal maternal depression. Method Participants were drawn from an ongoing longitudinal study of maternal distress during pregnancy (Fetal Programming study), which recruited pregnant women from the community in the first 22 weeks of pregnancy. Maternal depression and social support were assess...
The objectives of this study were to identify support needs, support resources, and support barri... more The objectives of this study were to identify support needs, support resources, and support barriers for young adolescents with asthma and allergies and to describe preferences for an accessible support intervention. Adolescents (N = 57) completed a survey questionnaire. Eight young adolescents, 10 parents, and 5 older adolescents participated in separate group interviews. Young adolescents' challenges included transition to self-care, balancing restrictions with safety, social isolation, and loneliness. Young teens recommended supportive networks facilitated by older adolescent peers and wanted to meet with other young adolescents living with asthma and allergies online and share information, advice, and encouragement with them.
The quality of the relationships that parents, particularly mothers, have with their children is ... more The quality of the relationships that parents, particularly mothers, have with their children is a potent predictor of children’s future development. Recent research suggests that mothers of preschool-age children exposed to domestic violence may be more sensitive and responsive to their children than other parents. This heightened sensitivity and responsiveness in relationships may be key to the successful development of
... dation and by the National Health Research and Development Program Mas-ters of Science Fellow... more ... dation and by the National Health Research and Development Program Mas-ters of Science Fellowship received by Nicole Letourneau, under ... between health professionals' and parents' perceptions as affecting the practice of FCC (Rosenbaum, King, & Cadman, 1992; Webb ...
Healthy child development has been identified as one of the key determinants of health and resili... more Healthy child development has been identified as one of the key determinants of health and resiliency in adulthood. This article reports on the results of two pilot studies of randomized controlled trials of parent support interventions aimed at improving the parent-child relationship and ...
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Papers by N. Letourneau