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Centering pediatric research, advocacy, and clinical care around early relational health

Pediatric Research (2024)Cite this article

On behalf of the Pediatric Policy Council: Shetal Shah (Chair), Joyce Javier, Lois Lee, Mona Patel, Lisa Chamberlain, Tina Cheng, David Keller, Maya Ragavan, Ann Reed.

“Early Relational Health is the state of emotional well-being that grows from emotional connection between babies and toddlers and their parents and caregivers when they experience strong, positive, and nurturing relationships with each other.

Early Relational Health is foundational to children’s healthy growth and development and their parents’ and caregivers’ sense of competence, connection, and overall well-being. These strong and enduring relationships also help to protect the family from the harmful effects of stress.”

–Nurture Connection1

“Early Relational Health is the state of emotional well-being that grows from emotional connection between babies and toddlers and their parents and caregivers when they experience strong, positive, and nurturing relationships with each other.

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References

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Acknowledgements

The authors are members of the Society for Pediatric Research Advocacy Committee, whose mission is to provide leadership in child advocacy through government and public forums for issues related to the mission of the Society. We recommend public and government priorities for advocacy, advocate for prioritized issues in partnership with other agencies and societies and community effectively with Council and membership regarding advocacy committees. Our multidisciplinary team provides a unique lens for the development of this SPR Perspectives review.

Funding

GGG is supported by Grant 2022025 from the Doris Duke Foundation. This commentary does not reflect the views of the Doris Duke Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center and Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    Genevieve G. Guyol

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Division of General Pediatrics; Department of Pediatrics and Population and Public Health Sciences, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Joyce R. Javier

Authors
  1. Genevieve G. Guyol
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Correspondence to Genevieve G. Guyol.

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Guyol, G.G., Javier, J.R. Centering pediatric research, advocacy, and clinical care around early relational health. Pediatr Res (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-024-03152-0

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