Changes in parenting representations following Circle of Security-Parenting (COS-P) at an Australian Early Parenting Center.

Attachment theory highlights that early infant‐parent relationships act as a basis for shaping future interpersonal relationships and socioemotional development (Ainsworth & Bowlby, ; Ainsworth et al., ; Bowlby, ). Specifically, infants who receive sensitive and responsive caregiving are more likely to develop an internal representation of their caregiver as a ‘secure base’ from which they can explore their environment and as a ‘safe haven’ that they can turn to for comfort and support when needed (Ainsworth et al., ). Multiple meta‐analyses and systematic reviews have consistently shown sensitive caregiving to predict parent‐infant attachment security (Groh et al., ; Opie et al., ; Ranson & Urichuk, ; van Ijzendoorn, ). Parent‐infant attachment security has, in turn, been shown to predict a range of positive child socioemotional development outcomes including confidence and resilience (Leerkes & Zhou, ; Malekpour, ; Ranson & Urichuk, ), emotional regulation, cognitive development, mental wellbeing (Leerkes & Zhou, ; Zimmer‐Gembeck et al., ), physical health and future life success (Ranson & Urichuk, ). This study is one of the few to consider the impact of parent demographic factors (mothers/fathers, education) on COS‐P outcomes.