Infant mental health journal

01 9 October 2026

DOI 10.1002/imhj.70122

The influence of maternal representations of the child on parenting behaviors: A longitudinal study from pregnancy to 4 years postpartum

Open DOI

Joohee Lee, Matthew J. Marvin, Alexandra L. Ballinger et al.

Maternal representations of the child begin forming during pregnancy and evolve through interactions with the baby. Research suggests that prenatal representations may have a more stable impact on parenting than postnatal representations...

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02 5 October 2026

DOI 10.1002/imhj.70119

Experiences of mothers with borderline personality disorder following an intervention to support mother‐infant relationships: “more tools in my toolbox”

Open DOI

Jade Pryor, Alyssa Sawyer, Clemence Due et al.

Motherhood is inherently demanding, and some of these demands may be amplified for women with borderline personality disorder (BPD). The exacerbation of BPD symptoms from parenting‐related stressors can have adverse impacts on mother‐inf...

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03 5 October 2026

DOI 10.1002/imhj.70115

Infant and early childhood mental health professionals’ attitudes toward a system of professional endorsement: A quantitative examination of personal factors, professional support, and perceived benefits

Open DOI

Lorraine F. Kubicek, Cheri J. Shapiro, Tristan Collier et al.

Demand for recognition of the specialized knowledge and skills required of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) practitioners, researchers, and policymakers resulted in the establishment of standardized professional credentia...

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04 5 October 2026

DOI 10.1002/imhj.70121

Context processing as a moderator of the association between posttraumatic stress symptoms and the adaptation of maternal sensitivity following stress related to separation

Open DOI

Shannen Graf, Lara Detoledo, Sophie Wood et al.

We aimed to assess the moderating role of context processing (i.e., context‐encoding and ‐memory) in the association between maternal posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and the changes in maternal sensitivity in reaction to a separatio...

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05 5 October 2026

DOI 10.1002/imhj.70118

Paternal involvement and caregiving outcomes at three years: A study using municipal data in Japan

Open DOI

Shogo Akahoshi, Reiko Saito, Aya Shimada et al.

This study aimed to ascertain whether paternal involvement in childrearing at 18 months was associated with developmental and caregiving outcomes at the age of 3 years. We used the health examination records of 52,921 children born in Ki...

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06 30 September 2026

DOI 10.1002/imhj.70117

Longitudinal links between prenatal maternal depression and anxiety symptoms and infant temperament: The roles of postnatal symptoms and perceived partner support

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Raphaëlle Giac, Sophie Chaput‐Langlois, Linda Booij et al.

The perinatal period is marked by heightened vulnerability to maternal depression and anxiety symptoms, which have been associated with early child socio‐emotional development, including difficult temperament. This longitudinal study inv...

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07 30 September 2026

DOI 10.1002/imhj.70116

ISSUE INFORMATION

Open DOI

08 13 August 2026

DOI 10.1002/imhj.70114

Childhood maltreatment and disrupted parenting in mothers exposed to intimate partner violence: Mediation via mothers' posttraumatic stress symptoms?

Open DOI

Willemien M. van Den Dorpel, Lenneke R. A. Alink, Carlo Schuengel et al.

Parents who have experienced childhood maltreatment may develop posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms and display disrupted parenting behavior, particularly in situations of revictimization through intimate partner violence (IPV). This stu...

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09 5 August 2026

DOI 10.1002/imhj.70113

Changes in parenting representations following Circle of Security‐Parenting (COS‐P) at an Australian Early Parenting Center

Open DOI

Jerrica Kuan, Anna‐Lisa Camberis, Adam Johns et al.

The Circle of Security‐Parenting program (COS‐P) is a widely disseminated attachment and mentalization‐informed parenting intervention. Outcome studies, however, have yielded mixed results and its effectiveness for parents from different...

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10 23 July 2026

DOI 10.1002/imhj.70112

Maternal mental health and its influence on children's early development: Evidence from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Open DOI

Elizabeth Hentschel, Amer Hasan, Mahreen Tahir‐Chowdhry et al.

Little is known about the prevalence of maternal mental health challenges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan and the ways in which it may influence the development outcomes of young children. This study describes the prevalence of three mea...

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