Video-Feedback Interventions Focusing on the Mother–Child Relationship: A Systematic Review of Program Characteristics, Evidence, and Outcomes in Early Childhood

The quality of parenting is fundamental to the healthy development of children and young people. Evidence indicates that interventions promoting positive and consistent parenting can reduce adverse childhood experiences and improve mental health outcomes. Video-feedback intervention (VFI) is a well-supported technique aimed at strengthening the parent-child relationship, particularly in early childhood. VFI involves recording interactions between a caregiver and a child, followed by the review of selected clips with a trained practitioner. This systematic review examined the effectiveness of stand-alone VFIs, focusing on their characteristics and outcomes for mothers and children aged 0-6 years. A comprehensive search across five major databases (EBSCO, Scopus, WOS, PubMed, and Cochrane Library) yielded 1,451 articles, of which 32 met the inclusion criteria. Results showed that VFI programs are adaptable for mothers of all ages, including adolescents, with interventions ranging from 1 to 15 sessions lasting 20 min to 3 h. They are mainly delivered through home visits, but also in clinical or online settings, and conducted by trained personnel of varying professional levels. Sessions focus on mother-child interactions during activities such as free-play, structured tasks, or daily routines. VFIs improved maternal sensitivity, confidence, and emotional regulation, while enhancing children's attachment and behavioral outcomes. Effects on parenting stress and maternal representations were mixed. The findings underscore the flexibility and effectiveness of VFIs in supporting mothers from diverse backgrounds and with varying risk factors, all parenting preschool-aged children. The main information of the systematic review protocol was reported in Open Science Framework at the link (https://osf.io/jtg8v/?view_only=2b1809634c3845a2a879003ed03385a8).