Reflective functioning, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and maternal response to infant crying: A follow-up study

In the present study, we aimed to assess the predictive role of selected factors on maternal responses to infant crying at 6-12 months after birth. About 221 Polish mothers in the postpartum period completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the 2-item Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-2), the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (PRFQ), and a Polish adaptation of the My Emotions Scale-the Emotional Reactions to Infant Crying Questionnaire (SER-PD). Through multivariate analyses, we found that educational level, maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms, parental reflective functioning, and breastfeeding impacted child-oriented and parent-oriented responses to infant cries. Specifically, higher prementalizing, severity of the symptoms of depression, and educational level were associated with higher anxiety in response to infant crying, while higher Interest and Curiosity were linked with higher sympathy for infant signalling. Moreover, higher parental empathy as a response to their child's cries was related to a medium certainty about mental states and indicating breastfeeding as a main or a supplementary way of feeding the baby. In conclusion, enhancing parental reflective functioning and encouraging breastfeeding can help mothers better comprehend both their own and their infants' responses. A proper intervention is needed to ensure support for mothers and infants.