INSIGHT Responsive Parenting Intervention Effects on Child Self-Regulation at Ages 3 and 6 Years

Self-regulation encompasses the ability to modulate behavior, cognition, and emotions. Parents can promote child self-regulation with responsive parenting (RP). RP shapes various components of self-regulation and is associated with numerous developmental outcomes. Here, we examine long-term effects of an early-life RP intervention designed for obesity prevention on later child self-regulation and temperament. Participants were from a randomized clinical trial comparing the RP intervention against a safety control (n = 279). RP intervention content in the domains of feeding, sleep, emotion regulation, and interactive play was delivered to primiparous mothers and infants at four home visits during the first year after birth, followed by clinical research center visits at ages 1 and 2 years and phone calls at 1.5 and 2.5 years. Child self-regulation and temperament were assessed with behavioral tasks and the Children's Behavior Questionnaire at child ages 3 and 6 years. A path model tested whether the RP intervention affected child self-regulation in comparison to the control group. At 6 years, children in the RP group had lower parent-reported negative affect (b = -0.34, SE = 0.15, p = .023) and better observed emotion regulation (b = 0.45, SE = 0.16, p = .007). Findings indicate that an RP intervention designed for early obesity prevention promoted emotional aspects of self-regulation in middle childhood, highlighting RP as a strategy for promoting healthy behavior across multiple domains.