Grant: Doctoral Award - Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships

Children of substance-using women are at risk for a wide range of health and developmental problems due to their mothers' use of drugs and alcohol during pregnancy, and the instability of their home environments. Research has shown that environmental risk factors commonly experienced by substance-using mothers, such as domestic violence, can increase the problems these children experience, whereas quality caregiving can minimize them. The mother-child relationship has been shown to improve the mental health of high-risk children by partially compensating for the risk factors they face. This finding has huge implications for interventions aimed at high-risk populations. This study will investigate the mother-child relationship and child mental health outcomes within a population of substance-using women and their young children with the objective of clarifying these associations to better understand how to best support the development of high quality mother-child relationships. The influence of external sources of support and stability, including relationships with child care providers and social support, will be a main focus. It is hypothesized that these factors will not only impact children's mental health and development, but will also affect mothers' relationship capacity and mental health. We believe every child has the right to the best possible start in life and the opportunity to reach their full potential. It is known that a healthy mother-child relationship can help a child overcome environmental risk factors; thus, identifying mother-child dyads at risk of dysfunctional relationships and addressing their needs quickly and effectively before they significantly impede child development is paramount. This research is therefore essential for providing evidence-based tailored services aimed at developing solid mother-child relationships, giving both mothers and children the stable base needed from which to move forward.