Thriving in the Face of Early Adversity

Integrating theories drawn from biological, social, and developmental perspectives, Bugental’s program of research tracked the outcomes experienced by children born with medical or physical disorders. At risk children who experienced harsh parenting manifested a low ability to cope with stress (e.g., they showed cortisol hyper-reactivity and low habituation). In contrast, at risk children who experienced supportive parenting showed adaptive hormonal responses and an exceptional ability to habituate to stress. Children who were not at risk manifested significantly less reactivity to their parenting history. Harsh parenting, in response to at risk children, was found to be moderated by parents’ perceived powerlessness. A cognitively-based home visitation program yielded reductions in child maltreatment and the enhancement of health among infants born at medical risk.