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Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
Published on: September 19, 2019
Maternal Reflective Functioning Associates with Adolescent Personality Pathology in Mother-Adolescent Dyads.
Breana R Cervantes1, Madeleine Allman1, Salome Vanwoerden2
1University of Houston Clinical Psychology Program in the Child track.
Summary
Maternal reflective functioning (RF) is linked to fewer adolescent personality issues, particularly borderline features and functional impairment. However, no differences in maternal RF were found between adolescents with and without personality pathology.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Adolescence is a critical period for personality disorder (PD) onset.
- The parent-child relationship is vital for healthy adolescent development.
- Maternal reflective functioning (RF) can protect against psychopathology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between maternal RF and adolescent personality pathology.
- To explore maternal RF differences in adolescents with and without personality pathology.
- To consider both DSM-5 Section II and Section III frameworks for PD.
Main Methods:
- 119 adolescents and their mothers participated.
- Maternal RF was assessed.
- Adolescent personality pathology was measured using borderline features, self/interpersonal functioning impairment, and maladaptive traits.
Main Results:
- Maternal RF was significantly linked to adolescent borderline features (controlling for gender).
- Maternal RF was significantly linked to impairment in self and interpersonal functioning (controlling for gender and age).
- No significant differences in maternal RF were found between adolescents above and below the PD clinical threshold.
Conclusions:
- Maternal RF shows promise as a target for interventions addressing adolescent personality dysfunction.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the role of maternal RF in adolescent PD.
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