Amanda Hiles Howard
Biographic Data
| ID | 3561674 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Amanda Hiles Howard |
| GIVEN NAMES | Amanda Hiles |
| FAMILY NAME | Howard |
| SIGNATURE | HOWARD A H |
| AFFILIATIONS | Samford University |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-5787-4161 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 26 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 21 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 26 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2013 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Enablers of community‐led action in Australian climate disasters: Recognising the role of pre‐existing social foundations and local knowledges
This study explores how disaster‐impacted communities in New South Wales, Australia, mobilised during and after the bushfire crisis of 2019–20 and multiple catastrophic floods between 2020 and 2022. Interviews were conducted across three regions: Northern Rivers; Blue Mountains; and Hawkesbury. Our findings illuminate how community‐led actions are driven by a broad range of ‘local knowledges’, based in and organised through long‐standing networks…
Barriers to spiritual practice implementation among child welfare professionals: A multi-national qualitative analysis
This study explores the barriers child welfare professionals encounter when attempting to engage in spiritual practices recommended by their organizations. Using thematic analysis of qualitative responses from a larger mixed-methods project of 304 child welfare professionals, seven primary barriers emerged: busyness and competing responsibilities, internal obstacles, organizational culture and structure challenges, contextual constraints, resourc…
Perceived Supports and Barriers in Transitioning to Adulthood From Alternative Care: A Multinational Study of 962 Adults With Care Experience
Adults who experienced separation from parental care and resided in alternative care settings often face challenges transitioning to adulthood. This study explored perceived supports and barriers during this transition through an online survey of 962 care‐experienced adults from over 20 countries. It combined demographic analysis and thematic analysis of qualitative responses. Key findings indicated that the reasons for separation from biological…
Orphanhood Status and Antecedents to Placement Among a Multinational Sample of Adults With Care Experience
Globally, millions of children are adopted or placed in alternative care settings (i.e., residential, foster, or kinship care). The current study explores the factors leading to separation from parents and adoption or placement in alternative care by investigating orphanhood status, perceived antecedents to placement, types of alternative care placements, and regional and Human Development Index (HDI) differences in these variables. A multination…
Childhood Adversity and Life Satisfaction in Adults with Alternative Care Experience in 12 Low- and Middle-Income Nations: The Mediating Roles of Individual and Relational Protective Factors and Resil…
Adults with care experience have elevated rates of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and a greater likelihood of poor outcomes. Some research has examined how protective factors and resilience impact outcomes among care leavers, but few studies include those from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Further, little work has examined the interactive impact of protective factors and resilience in this population. We investigated (a) the pre…
The Relationship between Sense of Belonging and Well-Being Outcomes in Emerging Adults with Care Experience
Robust social resources that lead to a healthy sense of belonging are imperative during emerging adulthood. However, young adults with alternative care experience, such as residential or foster care, often lack the social resources necessary to transition to adulthood successfully. Though some research has examined the importance of social resources in this population, less is known about a sense of belonging, which is associated with these socia…
Recommendations for child welfare care reform in the global south: Perspectives of 542 adults who were separated from parental care during childhood in 12 nations
A robust literature has outlined the risks to children separated from parental care. Recently, there has been an effort to reform services to this population. However, the research driving reform has often neglected the voices of adults with care experience, especially those from the Global South. The current research explored recommendations for care reform from 542 adults who had experienced alternative care during childhood in 12 nations in th…
The relationship between adverse childhood experiences, health and life satisfaction in adults with care experience: The mediating role of attachment
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with a plethora of negative outcomes. Research has also found that adults who were separated from parental care and lived in alternative care settings during childhood have high levels of ACEs and are more likely to have poor outcomes. A growing body of research has supported the importance of attachment as a mechanism underlying the relationship between ACEs and adult wellbeing. However, little…
Learning together about disasters through action research partnerships
Walking along side those responding to climate-related threats as co-researchers is surfacing new understanding of the potential for community action in complex and chaotic situations. Action research enables academia, government, non-government organizations and community members to learn collaboratively, building knowledge that is nuanced and contextualized. Whilst this approach aims to disrupt traditional power in relation to knowledge product…
Innovations in care for children separated from parents: Transitioning from residential to family models of service
Research suggests that children develop best in families, but millions currently reside in residential care centers. Many residential care centers have transitioned their programmes from a to a family care model. Using a mixed methods design, the current study examined (1) antecedents to transition, (2) key elements in the process and (3) outcomes of transitioning models of care. Participants included 39 non‐government organizations that had full…
Needs in an era of Covid-19: A preliminary investigation of self-reported needs of families who experienced rapid return as a result of government mandates
The COVID-19 pandemic has led some governments to mandate the rapid return of children in residential care to families. Constrained timelines and limited support lead to wellbeing risks for children and families in this situation. The goal of the present study was to better stand the needs of the families, as perceived by the children and families themselves. This can inform targeted service provision. Participants were 131 families who had exper…
Participant reflections on short-term international volunteering: Benefits, concerns, and perspective change
Millions of volunteers travel annually on short-term international service trips, often with the motivation of serving host communities. These trips have benefits for both the volunteers and the host communities, but also carry potential risks. The goal of the present study was to investigate how volunteers perceived their trip experiences, including the potential risks and benefits to themselves and the communities they served. Previous voluntee…
The best intentions: An examination of current practices in short-term international service trips intended to benefit vulnerable children and youth
Millions travel annually for short-term international service trips (STIST). These trips often involve volunteering with vulnerable children, including those in residential care (ex. orphanages). Though a prevalent practice, little research exists regarding how volunteers are prepared and what activities they engage in. The goal of the present study was to provide data on pre-trip preparation, in-country activities, and how these impacted volunte…
Adverse Childhood Experiences and Problematic Media Use: Perceptions of Caregivers of High-Risk Youth
Youth with a history of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are more likely to develop risky health behaviors. With the increase of media use in the general population, it is likely that these high-risk youth are developing maladaptive behaviors associated with media use (i.e., problematic media use). The goals of this article are (1) to describe symptoms of problematic media use in high-risk youth and (2) to determine whether ACEs are related t…
Data-informed recommendations for faith communities desiring to support vulnerable children and families during the Covid-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened risk factors in vulnerable families. Historically, faith communities have provided support crises but may lack clear direction on how to best aid during the pandemic. The current study provides data-informed recommendations for faith communities to support vulnerable families during the pandemic. Eighty-seven non-government organizations serving 454,637 vulnerable families completed a questionnaire. Results ex…
Adverse childhood experiences and problematic media use: The roles of attachment and impulsivity
Research has found that childhood adversity is associated with numerous maladaptive outcomes, including insecure attachment, mental health challenges, and problematic media use. As attachment is a primary developmental process that can be affected by childhood adversity, insecure attachment may be one psychological mechanism through which childhood adversity is associated with problematic media use. Further, disturbances in the attachment relatio…
Attachment classification and years of service in a sample of human service providers working in child welfare
Employee turnover is a pressing problem facing human service professions, especially professionals providing services in the child welfare system. Few studies have examined whether psychological characteristics contribute to turnover. Research suggests that insecure attachment representations may impact burnout and secondary traumatic stress, both common causes of turnover. However, little is known about whether attachment representations vary by…
Sensory processing in children with a history of maltreatment: An occupational therapy perspective
Children with a history of maltreatment exhibit differences in a variety of domains, including sensory processing. However, little is known about how domain-specific sensory processing deficits differ by the type of maltreatment experienced. The focus of the current study was to investigate the relationship between abuse, neglect, or no maltreatment on seven sensory domains in a sample of adopted children. Caregivers of 408 adopted children (M= 7…
An Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of the Attachment Behavior Checklist
The Attachment Behavior Checklist is a promising, but unvalidated, measure designed to assess attachment disturbances. Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses were conducted. Results revealed a 5-factor solution best fit the data. Individual differences in the factors were examined. The Child Behavior Checklist was used to determine convergent and discriminant validity
More than words: Computerized text analysis of child welfare professionals' Adult Attachment Interviews
Studying the attachment representations of child welfare workers can benefit workers and the vulnerable populations they serve. The Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) is the most widely used and well-validated measure of adult attachment but is also costly and time-consuming to score. Linguistic Inquiry Word Count (LIWC), a text-analysis software program, has the potential to lessen the burden of AAI scoring, making it a lower-cost, faster option f…
The role of attachment classification on disclosure of self and rater-reported adverse childhood experiences in a sample of child welfare professionals
Mental State Language Development: The Longitudinal Roles of Attachment and Maternal Language
Maternal mental state language is thought to influence children's mental state language and sociocognitive understanding (e.g., theory of mind), but the mechanism is unclear. The current study examined the longitudinal development of mental state language in mother–child interactions. The methodology included assessments of the child and/or mother–child dyad at six time points between 12 to 52 months of the child's age. Measures determined child'…
Decrease in Behavioral Problems and Trauma Symptoms Among At-Risk Adopted Children Following Trauma-Informed Parent Training Intervention
Children who have experienced early adversities are at risk for behavioral problems and trauma symptoms. Using a two-group, pre-post intervention design, the current study evaluated the effectiveness of a parent training utilizing Trust-Based Relational Intervention, a trauma-informed, attachment-based intervention, in reducing behavioral problems and trauma symptoms in at-risk adopted children. Children of parents in the treatment group ( n = 48…
An examination of the relationships between professional quality of life, adverse childhood experiences, resilience, and work environment in a sample of human service providers
Mad matters: A critical reader in Canadian Mad Studies
Mad Matters offers a comprehensive, user-led, inclusive, well-evidenced and focused critical examination of madness and Mad Studies. At heart, it is a critique of the professional-led idea of ‘reco
An examination of the relationships between professional quality of life, adverse childhood experiences, resilience, and work environment in a sample of human service providers
An examination of attachment representations among child welfare professionals
The relationship between adverse childhood experiences, health and life satisfaction in adults with care experience: The mediating role of attachment
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with a plethora of negative outcomes. Research has also found that adults who were separated from parental care and lived in alternative care settings during childhood have high levels of ACEs and are more likely to have poor outcomes. A growing body of research has supported the importance of attachment as a mechanism underlying the relationship between ACEs and adult wellbeing. However, little…
Adverse childhood experiences and problematic media use: The roles of attachment and impulsivity
Research has found that childhood adversity is associated with numerous maladaptive outcomes, including insecure attachment, mental health challenges, and problematic media use. As attachment is a primary developmental process that can be affected by childhood adversity, insecure attachment may be one psychological mechanism through which childhood adversity is associated with problematic media use. Further, disturbances in the attachment relatio…
The role of attachment classification on disclosure of self and rater-reported adverse childhood experiences in a sample of child welfare professionals
Learning together about disasters through action research partnerships
Walking along side those responding to climate-related threats as co-researchers is surfacing new understanding of the potential for community action in complex and chaotic situations. Action research enables academia, government, non-government organizations and community members to learn collaboratively, building knowledge that is nuanced and contextualized. Whilst this approach aims to disrupt traditional power in relation to knowledge product…
Participant reflections on short-term international volunteering: Benefits, concerns, and perspective change
Millions of volunteers travel annually on short-term international service trips, often with the motivation of serving host communities. These trips have benefits for both the volunteers and the host communities, but also carry potential risks. The goal of the present study was to investigate how volunteers perceived their trip experiences, including the potential risks and benefits to themselves and the communities they served. Previous voluntee…
Attachment classification and years of service in a sample of human service providers working in child welfare
Employee turnover is a pressing problem facing human service professions, especially professionals providing services in the child welfare system. Few studies have examined whether psychological characteristics contribute to turnover. Research suggests that insecure attachment representations may impact burnout and secondary traumatic stress, both common causes of turnover. However, little is known about whether attachment representations vary by…
Sensory processing in children with a history of maltreatment: An occupational therapy perspective
Children with a history of maltreatment exhibit differences in a variety of domains, including sensory processing. However, little is known about how domain-specific sensory processing deficits differ by the type of maltreatment experienced. The focus of the current study was to investigate the relationship between abuse, neglect, or no maltreatment on seven sensory domains in a sample of adopted children. Caregivers of 408 adopted children (M= 7…
An examination of attachment representations among child welfare professionals
Mad matters: A critical reader in Canadian Mad Studies
Mad Matters offers a comprehensive, user-led, inclusive, well-evidenced and focused critical examination of madness and Mad Studies. At heart, it is a critique of the professional-led idea of ‘reco
Decrease in Behavioral Problems and Trauma Symptoms Among At-Risk Adopted Children Following Trauma-Informed Parent Training Intervention
Children who have experienced early adversities are at risk for behavioral problems and trauma symptoms. Using a two-group, pre-post intervention design, the current study evaluated the effectiveness of a parent training utilizing Trust-Based Relational Intervention, a trauma-informed, attachment-based intervention, in reducing behavioral problems and trauma symptoms in at-risk adopted children. Children of parents in the treatment group ( n = 48…
An examination of the relationships between professional quality of life, adverse childhood experiences, resilience, and work environment in a sample of human service providers
The role of attachment classification on disclosure of self and rater-reported adverse childhood experiences in a sample of child welfare professionals
Mental State Language Development: The Longitudinal Roles of Attachment and Maternal Language
Maternal mental state language is thought to influence children's mental state language and sociocognitive understanding (e.g., theory of mind), but the mechanism is unclear. The current study examined the longitudinal development of mental state language in mother–child interactions. The methodology included assessments of the child and/or mother–child dyad at six time points between 12 to 52 months of the child's age. Measures determined child'…
Sensory processing in children with a history of maltreatment: An occupational therapy perspective
Children with a history of maltreatment exhibit differences in a variety of domains, including sensory processing. However, little is known about how domain-specific sensory processing deficits differ by the type of maltreatment experienced. The focus of the current study was to investigate the relationship between abuse, neglect, or no maltreatment on seven sensory domains in a sample of adopted children. Caregivers of 408 adopted children (M= 7…
An Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of the Attachment Behavior Checklist
The Attachment Behavior Checklist is a promising, but unvalidated, measure designed to assess attachment disturbances. Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses were conducted. Results revealed a 5-factor solution best fit the data. Individual differences in the factors were examined. The Child Behavior Checklist was used to determine convergent and discriminant validity
More than words: Computerized text analysis of child welfare professionals' Adult Attachment Interviews
Studying the attachment representations of child welfare workers can benefit workers and the vulnerable populations they serve. The Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) is the most widely used and well-validated measure of adult attachment but is also costly and time-consuming to score. Linguistic Inquiry Word Count (LIWC), a text-analysis software program, has the potential to lessen the burden of AAI scoring, making it a lower-cost, faster option f…
Adverse childhood experiences and problematic media use: The roles of attachment and impulsivity
Research has found that childhood adversity is associated with numerous maladaptive outcomes, including insecure attachment, mental health challenges, and problematic media use. As attachment is a primary developmental process that can be affected by childhood adversity, insecure attachment may be one psychological mechanism through which childhood adversity is associated with problematic media use. Further, disturbances in the attachment relatio…
Attachment classification and years of service in a sample of human service providers working in child welfare
Employee turnover is a pressing problem facing human service professions, especially professionals providing services in the child welfare system. Few studies have examined whether psychological characteristics contribute to turnover. Research suggests that insecure attachment representations may impact burnout and secondary traumatic stress, both common causes of turnover. However, little is known about whether attachment representations vary by…
Adverse Childhood Experiences and Problematic Media Use: Perceptions of Caregivers of High-Risk Youth
Youth with a history of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are more likely to develop risky health behaviors. With the increase of media use in the general population, it is likely that these high-risk youth are developing maladaptive behaviors associated with media use (i.e., problematic media use). The goals of this article are (1) to describe symptoms of problematic media use in high-risk youth and (2) to determine whether ACEs are related t…
Data-informed recommendations for faith communities desiring to support vulnerable children and families during the Covid-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened risk factors in vulnerable families. Historically, faith communities have provided support crises but may lack clear direction on how to best aid during the pandemic. The current study provides data-informed recommendations for faith communities to support vulnerable families during the pandemic. Eighty-seven non-government organizations serving 454,637 vulnerable families completed a questionnaire. Results ex…
Innovations in care for children separated from parents: Transitioning from residential to family models of service
Research suggests that children develop best in families, but millions currently reside in residential care centers. Many residential care centers have transitioned their programmes from a to a family care model. Using a mixed methods design, the current study examined (1) antecedents to transition, (2) key elements in the process and (3) outcomes of transitioning models of care. Participants included 39 non‐government organizations that had full…
Needs in an era of Covid-19: A preliminary investigation of self-reported needs of families who experienced rapid return as a result of government mandates
The COVID-19 pandemic has led some governments to mandate the rapid return of children in residential care to families. Constrained timelines and limited support lead to wellbeing risks for children and families in this situation. The goal of the present study was to better stand the needs of the families, as perceived by the children and families themselves. This can inform targeted service provision. Participants were 131 families who had exper…
Participant reflections on short-term international volunteering: Benefits, concerns, and perspective change
Millions of volunteers travel annually on short-term international service trips, often with the motivation of serving host communities. These trips have benefits for both the volunteers and the host communities, but also carry potential risks. The goal of the present study was to investigate how volunteers perceived their trip experiences, including the potential risks and benefits to themselves and the communities they served. Previous voluntee…
The best intentions: An examination of current practices in short-term international service trips intended to benefit vulnerable children and youth
Millions travel annually for short-term international service trips (STIST). These trips often involve volunteering with vulnerable children, including those in residential care (ex. orphanages). Though a prevalent practice, little research exists regarding how volunteers are prepared and what activities they engage in. The goal of the present study was to provide data on pre-trip preparation, in-country activities, and how these impacted volunte…
The Relationship between Sense of Belonging and Well-Being Outcomes in Emerging Adults with Care Experience
Robust social resources that lead to a healthy sense of belonging are imperative during emerging adulthood. However, young adults with alternative care experience, such as residential or foster care, often lack the social resources necessary to transition to adulthood successfully. Though some research has examined the importance of social resources in this population, less is known about a sense of belonging, which is associated with these socia…
Recommendations for child welfare care reform in the global south: Perspectives of 542 adults who were separated from parental care during childhood in 12 nations
A robust literature has outlined the risks to children separated from parental care. Recently, there has been an effort to reform services to this population. However, the research driving reform has often neglected the voices of adults with care experience, especially those from the Global South. The current research explored recommendations for care reform from 542 adults who had experienced alternative care during childhood in 12 nations in th…
The relationship between adverse childhood experiences, health and life satisfaction in adults with care experience: The mediating role of attachment
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with a plethora of negative outcomes. Research has also found that adults who were separated from parental care and lived in alternative care settings during childhood have high levels of ACEs and are more likely to have poor outcomes. A growing body of research has supported the importance of attachment as a mechanism underlying the relationship between ACEs and adult wellbeing. However, little…
Learning together about disasters through action research partnerships
Walking along side those responding to climate-related threats as co-researchers is surfacing new understanding of the potential for community action in complex and chaotic situations. Action research enables academia, government, non-government organizations and community members to learn collaboratively, building knowledge that is nuanced and contextualized. Whilst this approach aims to disrupt traditional power in relation to knowledge product…
Childhood Adversity and Life Satisfaction in Adults with Alternative Care Experience in 12 Low- and Middle-Income Nations: The Mediating Roles of Individual and Relational Protective Factors and Resil…
Adults with care experience have elevated rates of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and a greater likelihood of poor outcomes. Some research has examined how protective factors and resilience impact outcomes among care leavers, but few studies include those from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Further, little work has examined the interactive impact of protective factors and resilience in this population. We investigated (a) the pre…
Perceived Supports and Barriers in Transitioning to Adulthood From Alternative Care: A Multinational Study of 962 Adults With Care Experience
Adults who experienced separation from parental care and resided in alternative care settings often face challenges transitioning to adulthood. This study explored perceived supports and barriers during this transition through an online survey of 962 care‐experienced adults from over 20 countries. It combined demographic analysis and thematic analysis of qualitative responses. Key findings indicated that the reasons for separation from biological…
Orphanhood Status and Antecedents to Placement Among a Multinational Sample of Adults With Care Experience
Globally, millions of children are adopted or placed in alternative care settings (i.e., residential, foster, or kinship care). The current study explores the factors leading to separation from parents and adoption or placement in alternative care by investigating orphanhood status, perceived antecedents to placement, types of alternative care placements, and regional and Human Development Index (HDI) differences in these variables. A multination…
Enablers of community‐led action in Australian climate disasters: Recognising the role of pre‐existing social foundations and local knowledges
This study explores how disaster‐impacted communities in New South Wales, Australia, mobilised during and after the bushfire crisis of 2019–20 and multiple catastrophic floods between 2020 and 2022. Interviews were conducted across three regions: Northern Rivers; Blue Mountains; and Hawkesbury. Our findings illuminate how community‐led actions are driven by a broad range of ‘local knowledges’, based in and organised through long‐standing networks…
Psychology (21 works) · Child Welfare and Adoption (12 works) · Developmental psychology (12 works) · Clinical Psychology (11 works) · Medicine (11 works) · Child Abuse and Trauma (10 works) · Clinical Psychology (10 works) · Political science (10 works) · Social Psychology (10 works) · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics (8 works)