Research project

Overview

This study was a systematic scoping review of the evidence on early emotional security and subsequent life course trajectories. This paper forms part of a broader series (The Nurturing Early Relational Health Review Series) (The Nurturing Early Relational Health Review Series), funded by the Paul Ramsay Foundation, aimed at advancing our understanding of early relational health and its impact on human development. This series brings together a collection of systematic reviews that explore the nature, determinants, and life course outcomes of early relational health. The goal is to promote better understanding and implementation of evidence-based interventions that nurture relational health from early life.

Research collaboration partners

• The Bouverie Centre (La Trobe University)
• Deakin University
• Griffith University
• The University of Melbourne
• Murdoch University
• The University of Western Australia
• Australian National University
• University of New South Wales
• The University of Sydney
• Telethon Kids
• The University of British Columbia.

Key research highlights

• The scoping review showed that the quality of interactions children have with their main caregiver in the first three years of life affects how they get along with family, friends and young adult peers as they mature.
• Positive early parent–child interactions may promote healthy relationships over time. For example, a secure infant–parent attachment is linked to positive behaviours in early childhood (e.g., relational competence and prosociality).
• By the same token, maladaptive early parent-child interactions pose a risk of poorer functioning in relationships as children age. For example, insecure infant-parent attachment is linked to negative peer-related outcomes, such as aggression, social problems, and disruptive behaviour.

Research Outputs

Paper led by Felicity Painter

1. Painter, F., Harverson, J., King, G. et al. Mapping the Influence of Infant–Parent Relational Quality on Life Course Relationships: A Scoping Review of Prospective Cohort Studies. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-025-00527-5

Other published papers in the series

1. Zhang, L., Liontos, D., Olsson, C. A., Evans-Whipp, T., McIntosh, J. E., Painter, F., Harverson, J., Whittle, S., & Australian Early Relational Health Network (2025). Early Relational Health and its Impact on the Developing Brain: A Scoping Review. Clinical child and family psychology review, 10.1007/s10567-025-00545-3. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-025-00545-3
2. O'Dean, S., Spry, E., Evans-Whipp, T., Mansour, K., Glauert, R., Olsson, C. A., Slade, T., & Australian Early Relational Health Network (2025). Scientific Progress in Mapping the Relational Ecology of Early Child Development: A Systematic Scoping Review. Clinical child and family psychology review, 10.1007/s10567-025-00522-w. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-025-00522-w
3. Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, M., Jones, A., Vasa, R. et al. Artificial Intelligence Software to Accelerate Screening for Living Systematic Reviews. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-025-00519-5

Research project team

• Felicity Painter (The Bouverie Centre)
• Jacquelyn Harverson
• Gabriella King
• Tracy Evans-Whipp (Deakin University)
• Melissa J. Green
• Kayla Mansour
• Lu Zhang
• Sarah Whittle
• Daniel Liontos
• Craig A. Olsson (Deakin University)
• Jennifer McIntosh (The Bouverie Centre)
• The Australian Early Relational Health Network