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Frightening maternal behavior over the first 2 years of life: effects on children's behavior problems in middle

Deborah Jacobvitz1, Ashleigh I Aviles2, Samantha Reisz3

  • 1Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.

Attachment & Human Development
|October 10, 2024
PubMed

Frightening maternal behavior is linked to infant disorganization, which predicts child behavioral problems. We examined continuity in frightening maternal behavior across the first 2 years by developing a new measure of anomalous/frightening (AN/FR) behavior that incorporates changes in parent-child interactions as children acquire symbolic representation. Maternal AN/FR behavior in toddlerhood also was examined in relation to later internalizing and externalizing symptoms. First-time mothers (N = 125) completed the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) prenatally, and mother-child dyads were observed interacting at 8 months, in Strange Situations at 12-15 months, and playing at 24 months. Teachers rated children's behavior problems at 7 years. Mothers classified as Unresolved on the AAI displayed more Frightening (FR) behavior at 8 months. Mothers' FR behavior predicted both attachment disorganization at 12-15 months and maternal AN/FR behavior at 24 months, which then predicted children's internalizing symptoms at age 7. Infant disorganization was indirectly related to internalizing symptoms, mediated by maternal AN/FR behavior.

Keywords:
Attachmentanomalous/frightening behaviorchild behavior problemsintergenerationalmother–child interaction

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