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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2025

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure

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Published on: September 19, 2019

Mentalizing in first-time fathers: reflective functioning as a mediator between attachment representation and

Antonia Dinzinger^1,2, Selina Ismair^1,2, Karl Heinz Brisch^1,3

¹Institute for Early Life Care, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.

Attachment & Human Development

|October 10, 2023

Summary

Secure paternal attachment and reflective functioning (RF) predict sensitive parenting. Fathers' reflective functioning explains how their attachment representation influences their sensitivity toward their children.

Keywords:

Fathers adult attachment mediation mentalizing parenting sensitivity reflective functioning

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The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

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Published on: June 12, 2020

Area of Science:

Developmental Psychology
Attachment Theory
Parent-Child Interaction

Background:

Paternal involvement in childrearing is increasing, making paternal sensitivity a key area of study.
Understanding factors influencing fathers' sensitivity is crucial for child development.
Attachment representation and reflective functioning (RF) are potential predictors of paternal sensitivity.

Purpose of the Study:

To examine the relationship between attachment representation and reflective functioning (RF) in fathers.
To investigate how these factors influence paternal sensitivity in parent-child interactions.
To explore the mediating role of RF in the association between attachment representation and paternal sensitivity.

Main Methods:

Longitudinal study with 40 first-time fathers and their 6-month-old infants.
Adult Attachment Interview used to assess paternal attachment representation and general RF during pregnancy.
Parental Development Interview and Emotional Availability Scale used to assess parental RF and paternal sensitivity at 6 months postpartum.

Main Results:

Secure paternal attachment representation was associated with higher paternal sensitivity.
High general and parental reflective functioning (RF) were linked to increased paternal sensitivity.
Parental RF significantly mediated the relationship between attachment representation and paternal sensitivity.

Conclusions:

Secure attachment and robust reflective functioning (RF) are vital for sensitive fathering.
Reflective functioning (RF) plays a key role in explaining how fathers' attachment representations translate into sensitive interactions.
These findings highlight the importance of supporting fathers' reflective capacities to enhance their parenting sensitivity.