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Related Experiment Videos

Maternal reflective functioning, attachment, and the transmission gap: a preliminary study.

Arietta Slade1, John Grienenberger, Elizabeth Bernbach

  • 1The City University of New York, Yale Child Study Center, 8 Hodge Road, Roxbury, CT 06783, USA.

Attachment & Human Development
|October 8, 2005
PubMed
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Maternal reflective functioning, a mother's ability to understand her child's mental states, significantly impacts infant attachment. This capacity is crucial for the intergenerational transmission of secure attachment patterns.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Attachment Theory

Background:

  • Attachment theory posits that early caregiver-child relationships influence later development.
  • Maternal reflective functioning (RF) is theorized to mediate the intergenerational transmission of attachment patterns.
  • Understanding the role of RF is crucial for identifying mechanisms in attachment continuity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of maternal reflective functioning in the intergenerational transmission of attachment.
  • To examine the relationship between maternal RF and adult attachment during pregnancy.
  • To assess the association between maternal RF and infant attachment at 14 months.

Main Methods:

  • Study included 40 mothers and their infants.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Maternal reflective functioning was assessed using the Parent Development Interview (PDI).
  • Adult attachment was measured during pregnancy, and infant attachment was assessed at 14 months.

    • Main Results:

    • Significant positive correlations were found between adult attachment and maternal reflective functioning.
    • Significant positive correlations were observed between maternal reflective functioning and infant attachment.
    • Preliminary mediation analysis indicated that maternal RF plays a key role in attachment transmission.

    Conclusions:

    • Maternal reflective functioning is significantly related to both maternal and infant attachment.
    • Maternal RF appears to be a crucial mediator in the intergenerational transmission of attachment.
    • These findings highlight the importance of maternal mentalization in fostering secure infant attachment.