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Intergenerational Transmission of Reflective Functioning.

Anna M Rosso1, Cinzia Airaldi1

  • 1Department of Education, University of Genoa Genova, Italy.

Frontiers in Psychology
|December 22, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Maternal reflective functioning (RF) and attachment security influence child RF and attachment. Secure maternal attachment and higher maternal RF predict better child RF and mentalization abilities.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Attachment Theory
  • Mentalization Research

Background:

  • Reflective functioning (RF) is crucial for understanding mental states.
  • Attachment security in childhood influences socio-emotional development.
  • The interplay between maternal and child RF and attachment is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal attachment security, maternal RF, and child RF in preadolescence.
  • To examine the relationship between child attachment security and child RF.
  • To determine if maternal RF predicts child RF.

Main Methods:

  • 39 mother-preadolescent dyads participated.
  • Maternal and child RF assessed using the Reflective Functioning Scale on Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) and Child Attachment Interview transcripts.
Keywords:
Child Attachment Interviewchild reflective functioningdismissing attachment modelmaternal mentalizationpreadolescence

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  • Attachment security assessed via AAI classifications.

    • Main Results:

    • Children of mothers with secure attachment reported higher RF.
    • Child RF correlated positively with maternal "Coherence of the Mind" and negatively with maternal derogation of attachment.
    • Child attachment security strongly predicted child RF; maternal RF predicted child RF, not maternal attachment security.

    Conclusions:

    • Maternal reflective functioning, particularly mentalizing ambivalent states, significantly predicts child RF.
    • Child attachment security is strongly associated with child RF.
    • Maternal RF is a key factor in the development of child RF and mentalization skills.