Sleep research article
Helping or controlling? A multi-method case study of a mother-daughter dyad and their interactions during trauma-focused therapy.
Authors: Verboon KE , Kullberg MJ , Verkuil B , Muris P , Bexkens A , Elzinga BM
One-line summary
A sleep science research article on Helping or controlling? A multi-method case study of a mother-daughter dyad and their interactions during trauma-focused therapy..
Sleep health notes
Sleep health notes will be added by the Sleepatch editorial team.
中文解读
中文解读待补充:本站会优先为失眠研究、睡眠质量改善、昼夜节律等高价值睡眠研究添加中文说明。
Original abstract
<b>Background:</b> Parents play a pivotal role in supporting children following trauma, yet little is known about daily parent-child interactions during trauma-focused treatment.<b>Objective:</b> This study aimed to examine daily dynamics related to parental overprotective and anxious rearing behaviours and adolescent PTSD symptoms during intensive trauma-focused therapy, and to evaluate the added value of a multi-method, multi-informant assessment approach.<b>Method:</b> A mother-daughter dyad, including a 14-year-old adolescent undergoing intensive trauma-focused therapy, was assessed over a five-week period. Data collection included baseline and follow-up questionnaires, ecological momentary assessment (EMA; four prompts per day), observational assessments, and qualitative interviews enabling the capture of multiple perspectives on parenting behaviours and adolescent PTSD symptoms.<b>Results:</b> Within this mother-daughter dyad, EMA captured substantial day-to-day fluctuations in both maternal behaviour and PTSD symptoms, and revealed reciprocal associations between maternal overprotection and adolescent PTSD symptoms. Both were not visible in retrospective surveys. Integrating EMA findings with observational and qualitative data yielded additional insight into maternal intentions, contextual influences, and discrepancies between mother and daughter perspectives.<b>Conclusions:</b> This case study illustrates the added value of multi-method, multi-informant approaches to capture clinically relevant parent-child dynamics during trauma-focused therapy. Although these approaches may require greater effort from families and clinicians than single-method assessments, they offer richer and more nuanced insights into parent-child dynamics in daily life. Future research should focus on developing more efficient assessment strategies, for example by using brief EMA protocols or integrating EMA in clinical care.
Links and sources
This content is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Sleep disorders, chronic insomnia, sleep apnea, and other conditions must be evaluated and treated by a qualified healthcare professional. If you experience persistent or severe sleep problems, consult a licensed physician or sleep specialist. Research cited refers to peer-reviewed studies; individual results may vary. Sleepatch does not endorse any specific medication, supplement, or therapy.
Want a personalized sleep improvement plan?
Sleepatch can prepare a customized sleep wellness program, insomnia relief guide, and evidence-based sleep coaching based on your needs.
Explore sleep services
Comments