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Cited by 149Attachment and Relationship DynamicsPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology ResearchChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Investigating the association between parental reflective functioning and distress tolerance in motherhood.

Open access
Rutherford, Helena J.V., Booth, Cortney R., Luyten, Patrick, Bridgett, David J., Mayes, Linda C.·2015·Infant Behavior and Development
DOI 10.1016/j.infbeh.2015.04.005PMC PMC4526429
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Abstract

Parental reflective functioning, referring to the capacity of a parent to consider their child’s mental states as they relate to their behavior, may support sensitive and adaptive parenting. We investigated the relationship between parental reflective functioning and tolerance of distress in a sample of recent mothers (N=59). Participants completed self-report measures of parental reflective functioning and distress tolerance, as well as two behavioral distress tolerance tasks. We also examined blood pressure and heart rate during the laboratory session. Mothers reporting more difficulty in recognizing and understanding their child’s mental states displayed decreased tolerance of distress on our behavioral and self-report measures. Further, we found evidence of a relationship between these measures and assessments of peripheral physiology. These findings are discussed in the context of reflective functioning and distress tolerance in parenthood, and their implications for parenting interventions.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

In 59 recent mothers, higher parental pre-mentalizing was associated with poorer distress tolerance on self-report and on a behavioral infant-soothing task, but not with a non-social computerized distress task. The study also found preliminary links between distress tolerance/reflective functioning and peripheral systolic blood pressure.

Key findings

  • PRFQ Pre-mentalizing was negatively correlated with DTS Tolerance, Absorption, and Appraisal subscales, indicating higher pre-mentalizing was associated with decreased capacity to tolerate distress.
  • Higher PRFQ Pre-mentalizing was associated with shorter persistence soothing the inconsolable baby simulator (BSIM); mothers who persisted the full BSIM had lower pre-mentalizing (M = 1.27, SD = 0.39) than the fastest terminators (M = 1.68, SD = 0.54), t(20) = 2.04, p = .05.
  • BSIM persistence ranged from 112 to 1620 seconds (M = 908, SD = 513); PASAT-C persistence ranged from 1 to 600 seconds (M = 211, SD = 235). BSIM and PASAT-C persistence were only weakly correlated, r(59) = .10, p = .47.
  • Systolic blood pressure changed across the BSIM session, F(2,110) = 3.73, p = .03, while diastolic blood pressure and heart rate did not. DTS-Tolerance was associated with lower systolic blood pressure at recovery after controlling for maternal age and education, r = −.36, p = .01.

Methods

  • Sixty-two mothers were recruited from the New Haven community; after exclusions, 59 were analyzed. Mothers were M = 27 years old (SD = 6), and their youngest child was 3–10 months old (M = 5 months, SD = 1); 27 were first-time mothers.
  • Mothers completed the 18-item Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (PRFQ), the 15-item Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS), the computerized Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT-C), and the BSIM infant-soothing paradigm; blood pressure and heart rate were measured before, immediately after, and 10 minutes after the BSIM.
  • Analyses used correlations, non-parametric Spearman correlations when data were non-normally distributed, repeated-measures ANOVA for physiological measures, and t-tests for group comparisons.

Limitations

  • The paper states it lacked a general measure of reflective functioning, did not assess infant temperament, and did not examine attachment or psychopathology as potential moderators/mediators.
  • The paper notes reliance on self-report measures may introduce reporting biases and reduced richness, and that the restricted infant age range may limit conclusions about postpartum timing.
  • The paper cautions that directionality cannot be inferred, and the text makes evident that the sample was small and correlational, limiting causal conclusions.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.infbeh.2015.04.005

Cites

46 of 46 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

0 of 41 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    Persistence times to soothe the BSIM ranged from 112 to 1620 seconds (M = 908 seconds; SD = 513 seconds).

    “Persistence times to soothe the BSIM ranged from 112 to 1620 seconds (M = 908 seconds; SD = 513 seconds or M = 15 minutes; SD = 9 minutes).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    The PRFQ-Pre-mentalizing subscale was negatively correlated with the Tolerance, Absorption, and Appraisal subscales of the DTS, with moderate to large effect sizes.

    “Notably, in Table 2, the PRFQ-Pre-mentalizing subscale was negatively correlated with the Tolerance, Absorption, and Appraisal subscales of the DTS. These associations were moderate to large in their effect size.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Persistence times in the PASAT-C ranged from 1 to 600 seconds (M = 211 seconds; SD = 235 seconds).

    “Persistence times in the PASAT-C ranged from 1 to 600 seconds (M = 211 seconds; SD = 235 seconds or M = 4 minutes; SD = 4 minutes).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    There were no other associations between the potential covariates and the other PRFQ and DTS subscales.

    “There were no other associations between the potential covariates and the other PRFQ and DTS subscales.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    There were only weak associations between the PRFQ and PASAT-C.

    “While there were only weak associations between the PRFQ and PASAT-C, there was a moderate and statistically significant negative correlation between the PRFQ-Pre-mentalizing subscale and persistence on soothing the BSIM.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 27
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 36

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    All other associations with the PRFQ-Interest and Curiosity and PRFQ-Certainty and DTS were weak and not statistically significant.

    “All other associations with the PRFQ-Interest and Curiosity and PRFQ-Certainty and DTS were weak and not statistically significant.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingown data

    Of the 11 mothers that persisted for the full amount of time on the BSIM, 6 of these also persisted the full amount of time on the PASAT-C.

    “Of the 11 mothers that persisted for the full amount of time on the BSIM, 6 of these also persisted the full amount of time on the PASAT-C.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Forty-six mothers terminated the PASAT-C task early; 13 mothers continued until the experimenter terminated the interaction.

    “Forty-six mothers terminated the task early; 13 mothers continued until the experimenter terminated the interaction.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Table 2 evidences negative correlations between (a) the DTS Tolerance subscale and maternal age, (2) the PRFQ-Certainty subscale and maternal age; and (3) the PRFQ-Certainty subscale and the DTS Regulation subscale and maternal education.

    “Table 2 evidences negative correlations between (a) the DTS Tolerance subscale and maternal age, (2) the PRFQ-Certainty subscale and maternal age; and (3) the PRFQ-Certainty subscale and the DTS Regulation subscale and maternal education.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Forty-eight mothers terminated the BSIM task early; 11 mothers continued until the experimenter terminated the interaction.

    “Forty-eight mothers terminated the task early; 11 mothers continued until the experimenter terminated the interaction.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    When controlling for maternal education and age in the PRFQ-Certainty and DTS Regulation analyses, the results remained weak and not statistically significant (r's < .20; p's > .15).

    “When controlling for maternal education and age in the PRFQ-Certainty and DTS Regulation analyses, the results remained weak and not statistically significant (r’s < .20; p’s > .15) and therefore did not change when adjusting for this covariate.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    A repeated measures ANOVA showed only an effect for systolic blood pressure over time (pre-BSIM, post-BSIM, 10 minutes post-BSIM), F(2,110) = 3.73, p = .03; diastolic blood pressure and heart rate remained unchanged.

    “A repeated measures ANOVA for each of these physiological measures examining changes over time (3 levels: pre-BSIM, post-BSIM, 10 minutes post-BSIM) showed only an effect for systolic blood pressure, F(2,110) = 3.73, p = .03, with diastolic blood pressure, F<1, and heart rate, F<1, remaining unchanged across the course of the interaction.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    We found no relationship between the BSIM and the PASAT-C, or the DTS and the PASAT-C.

    “Further, we found no relationship between the BSIM and the PASAT-C, or the DTS and the PASAT-C.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingown data

    Maternal age and education were associated with systolic blood pressure.

    “However, it is important to note that maternal age and education were associated with systolic blood pressure”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Systolic blood pressure at each time point of the BSIM was negatively associated with the PRFQ-Interest and Curiosity subscale; higher levels of Interest and Curiosity were associated with lower systolic blood pressure before, during and after the BSIM interaction.

    “Table 2 shows that systolic blood pressure at each time point of the BSIM was negatively associated with the PRFQ-Interest and Curiosity subscale.”
    • Also stated in: § PRFQ, DTS and BSIM Peripheral Physiology · plain
      “Specifically, higher levels of Interest and Curiosity were associated with lower systolic blood pressure before, during and after the BSIM interaction.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    SBP measured before (T1) and after (T2, T3) the BSIM was consistently associated with the DTS tolerance subscale: mothers with lower levels of SBP before and after the BSIM interaction reported an increased ability to tolerate distress.

    “SBP measured before (T1) and after (T2, T3) the BSIM was consistently associated with the DTS tolerance subscale: mothers with lower levels of SBP before and after the BSIM interaction reported an increased ability to tolerate distress.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Fonagy and colleagues (1991) reported that reflective functioning measured in parents prenatally predicted their children's attachment security at 12 and 18 months.

    “Fonagy and colleagues (1991) reported that reflective functioning measured in parents prenatally predicted their children’s attachment security at 12 and 18 months.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Fonagy and colleagues (1991)

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The capacity to recognize and understand mental states, emerging in early secure attachment relationships, is critical to understanding one's own mind, encouraging social relationships, and affect regulation.

    “This capacity, emerging in the context of early secure attachment relationships, is critical to understanding one’s own mind, encouraging the formation of social relationships, as well as affect regulation (Fonagy et al., 2006).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Fonagy et al., 2006

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Premisereasoning

    Caregiving may hold unique demands and experiences for parents, likely shaping cognitive faculties such as reflective functioning and mentalization.

    “Consequently, caregiving may hold unique demands and experiences for parents, likely shaping cognitive faculties such as reflective functioning and mentalization.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Children's attachment security has been found to be associated with their performance on false-belief reasoning tasks.

    “Further, children’s attachment security has been found to be associated with their performance on false-belief reasoning tasks – tasks that require an understanding of theory of mind (Fonagy, Redfern, & Charman, 1997).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Fonagy, Redfern, & Charman, 1997

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Slade and colleagues (2005) reported that parental reflective functioning mediated the relationship between parental attachment security and child attachment security postpartum.

    “In considering the intergenerational transmission of attachment, Slade and colleagues (2005) reported that parental reflective functioning also mediated the relationship between parental attachment security and child attachment security postpartum.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Slade and colleagues (2005)

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Data from a home-based mentalization intervention with maternal a sample suggested that infants in the intervention (vs. controls) were more likely to have a secure attachment and show less disorganization at one year of age.

    “Consistent with these findings, data from a home-based mentalization intervention with maternal a sample suggested that infants in the intervention (vs. controls) were more likely to have a secure attachment and show less disorganization at one year of age (Sadler et al., 2013).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Sadler et al., 2013 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Reflective functioning may help scaffold adaptive parent-child interactions.

    “In particular, there has been significant interest in how reflective functioning may help scaffold adaptive parent-child interactions (Slade, 2005).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Slade, 2005

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisereasoning

    Parental reflective functioning may be associated with affect regulation in the parent in a way that is not typical of other attachment relationships.

    “Further, parental reflective functioning may be associated with affect regulation in the parent in a way that is not typical of other attachment relationships.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationcitation

    This accumulating evidence suggests an important role for a parent's capacity to think about their child's mental states and how these mental states relate to behavior in children's developing attachment and social cognition.

    “This accumulating evidence suggests an important role for a parent’s capacity to think about their child’s mental states and how these mental states relate to behavior in children’s developing attachment and social cognition.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Higher levels of maternal mind-mindedness were associated with children's attachment security at 12 months and their later performance on theory of mind tasks.

    “Similar associations have been reported with respect to maternal mind-mindedness (i.e., the mother’s recognition that their child has mental states), wherein higher levels of mind-mindedness were associated with children’s attachment security at 12 months (Meins, Fernyhough, Fradley, & Tuckey, 2001) and their later performance on theory of mind tasks (Meins et al., 2002).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Meins, Fernyhough, Fradley, & Tuckey, 2001

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Meins et al., 2002 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premiseown data

    In a subset of the pilot sample (N=15), heart rate and systolic blood pressure increased pre- to post-BSIM interaction, validating the distressing nature of the task.

    “We also found that in a subset of this sample (N=15) where physiological recording was possible, heart rate and systolic blood pressure increased pre- to post-BSIM interaction, validating the distressing nature of the task.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Rutherford et al., 2013 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Parental reflective functioning is typically measured using the Parent Development Interview (PDI).

    “It is important to note that parental reflective functioning is typically measured using the Parent Development Interview (PDI; (Aber, Slade, Berger, Bresgi, & Kaplan, 1985; Slade, Bernbach, Grienenberger, Levy, & Locker, 2002) – a 60–90 minute semi-structured interview that asks parents to describe different interactions with their child.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Aber, Slade, Berger, Bresgi, & Kaplan, 1985

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Slade, Bernbach, Grienenberger, Levy, & Locker, 2002

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    These findings suggested that parental reflective functioning might be specific to tolerance of infant distress, but not distress tolerance more generally when measured by persistence times.

    “Hence, these findings suggested that parental reflective functioning might be specific to tolerance of infant distress, but not distress tolerance more generally when measured by persistence times.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    These distress tolerance findings fit with a broader literature that suggests parents may play a critical role in shaping the socialization and regulation of emotion in their children.

    “Notably, these distress tolerance findings fit with a broader literature that suggests parents may play a critical role in shaping the socialization and regulation of emotion in their children (Bariola, Hughes, & Gullone, 2012; Bridges, Denham, & Ganiban, 2004; Kopp, 1989; Thompson, 1994; Zeman, Cassano, Perry-Parrish, & Stegall, 2006).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Bariola, Hughes, & Gullone, 2012

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    • cites Bridges, Denham, & Ganiban, 2004 source

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    • cites Kopp, 1989 source

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    A recent report evidenced that maternal levels of distress tolerance (as measured by the PASAT-C) predicted adolescent daughters' level of distress tolerance, though this relationship was absent between maternal and adolescent son's distress tolerance levels.

    “A recent report evidenced that maternal levels of distress tolerance (as measured by the PASAT-C) predicted adolescent daughters’ level of distress tolerance, though this relationship was absent between maternal and adolescent son’s distress tolerance levels (Daughters, Gorka, Rutherford, & Mayes, 2013).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Daughters, Gorka, Rutherford, & Mayes, 2013

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Taken together, these studies suggest that parental reflective functioning may play a critical role in parenting behavior and the developing child's attachment security, reflective functioning capacity and consequently their child's ability to regulate their emotions and navigate the social world.

    “Taken together, these studies suggest that parental reflective functioning may play a critical role in parenting behavior and the developing child’s attachment security, reflective functioning capacity and consequently their child’s ability to regulate their emotions and navigate the social world.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The DTS is a self-report measure that has been widely employed as the hallmark assessment of distress tolerance.

    “The DTS is a self-report measure that has been widely employed as the hallmark assessment of distress tolerance (Lejuez, Banducci, & Long, 2013).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Lejuez, Banducci, & Long, 2013

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductcitation

    The DTS has good construct validity, internal consistency (α = .72-.82) and test-retest reliability (α = .61).

    “The DTS has good construct validity, internal consistency (α = .72–.82) and test-retest reliability (α = .61; Simons & Gaher, 2005).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Simons & Gaher, 2005 source

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductcitation

    The PASAT-C is a widely employed behavioral measure of distress tolerance.

    “The PASAT-C (Lejuez et al., 2003) is a widely employed behavioral measure of distress tolerance (Daughters, Lejuez, Kahler, Strong, & Brown, 2005; Daughters et al., 2009; Lejuez et al., 2003).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Lejuez et al., 2003

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    • cites Daughters, Lejuez, Kahler, Strong, & Brown, 2005

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    • cites Daughters et al., 2009 source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductcitation

    Construct validity of the PRFQ is evident from these subscales being associated with parental attachment, emotional availability, and parenting stress and distress as well as infant attachment status as assessed by the Strange Situation Procedure.

    “Construct validity is evident from these subscales being associated with parental attachment, emotional availability, and parenting stress and distress as well as infant attachment status as assessed by the Strange Situation Procedure (Luyten et al., under review; Rutherford et al., 2013).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Luyten et al., under review

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    • cites Rutherford et al., 2013 source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductcitation

    The PRFQ three-subscale structure holds for mothers and fathers and has been replicated in two independent samples.

    “This three-subscale structure holds for mothers and fathers and has been replicated in two independent samples.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Luyten et al., under review

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Impairments in mentalizing may be associated with increasing distress.

    “it is also important to consider the potential bi-directionality of these findings wherein impairments in mentalizing may be associated with increasing distress.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Stress and distress is thought to have a detrimental impact on the capacity to mentalize, especially if the stress is interpersonal in nature.

    “stress and distress is thought to have a detrimental impact on the capacity to mentalize, especially if the stress is interpersonal in nature.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Fonagy & Luyten, 2009 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The relationship between pre-mentalizing and distress tolerance may manifest in parenting contexts where mothers prone to pre-mentalizing about their infants' emotions may be less able to tolerate infant affective signals of distress, and struggle with accepting and managing the experience of distress to the extent that it interferes with caregiving behavior.

    “This potential relationship between pre-mentalizing and distress tolerance may manifest in parenting contexts where mothers prone to pre-mentalizing about their infants’ emotions may be less able to tolerate infant affective signals of distress, and struggle with accepting and managing the experience of distress to the extent that it interferes with caregiving behavior.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Difficulties in the detection and interpretation of infant affective signals and their association with infant's behavior could also increase frustration or distress for mothers.

    “For instance, difficulties in the detection and interpretation of infant affective signals and their association with infant’s behavior could also increase frustration or distress for mothers.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Higher levels of pre-mentalizing in the parenting role may be associated with mothers' persistence behavior in the presence of infant distress and mother's self-awareness of their own tolerance of distress.

    “These findings converge to suggest that higher levels of pre-mentalizing in the parenting role may be associated with mothers’ persistence behavior in the presence of infant distress and mother’s self-awareness of their own tolerance of distress.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Mothers increasing interest and curiosity in their child's mental states may act as a buffer or down-regulate stress.

    “it is also important to consider that mothers increasing interest and curiosity in their child’s mental states may act as a buffer or down-regulate stress.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Mothers in the original study were enrolled with an infant younger than the age of 2 years (M = 13 months); in the present study, we recruited mothers earlier in the postpartum period (M = 5 months).

    “Namely, mothers in the original study were enrolled with an infant younger than the age of 2 years (M = 13 months); however in the present study, we recruited mothers earlier in the postpartum period (M = 5 months).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Rutherford et al., 2013 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    Infant age did not emerge as a covariate in the current analyses, and there was a restricted age range in the present study (SD = 1 month), which may limit the influence of this variable.

    “While infant age did not emerge as a covariate in the current analyses, there was a restricted age range in the present study (SD = 1 month), which may limit the influence of this variable.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    Self-report measures may be limited due to reporting biases and the potential for decreased richness and quality of the data provided.

    “it is important to be cautious in the reliance on self-report measures - they may be limited due to reporting biases and the potential for decreased richness and quality of the data provided.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    A limitation of this work is the absence of a more general measure of reflective functioning.

    “A limitation of this work is the absence of a more general measure of reflective functioning.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    This employment of strategies does not reflect an adaptive strategy, such as cognitive reappraisal, but instead reflects active avoidance of distress.

    “Notably, this employment of strategies does not reflect an adaptive strategy, such as cognitive reappraisal, but instead reflects active avoidance of distress (e.g., “I’ll do anything to stop feeling distressed or upset”).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The DTS-Regulation subscale consists of items that relate to the use of regulation strategies to avoid sources of distress.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    We did not examine the potential for individual differences related to attachment or psychopathology.

    “We also did not examine the potential for individual differences related to attachment or psychopathology.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Our prior work reported a positive correlation between parent's interest and curiosity in their infant's mental states and distress tolerance as measured by the BSIM.

    “However, our prior work reported a positive correlation between parent’s interest and curiosity in their infant’s mental states and distress tolerance as measured by the BSIM (Rutherford et al., 2013).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Rutherford et al., 2013 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationreasoning

    We do not know whether soothing the inconsolable BSIM reflects mother's own caregiving context of soothing their distressed and dysregulated infant and the familiarity of situations of inconsolable distress.

    “Therefore we do not know whether soothing the inconsolable BSIM reflects mother’s own caregiving context of soothing their distressed and dysregulated infant and the familiarity of situations of inconsolable distress.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    This approach has been successfully implemented with the PDI, evidencing a two-factor solution of parents' mentalizing about the self and mentalizing about the child.

    “This approach has been successfully implemented with the PDI, evidencing a two-factor solution of parents’ mentalizing about the self and mentalizing about the child (Suchman, DeCoste, Leigh, et al., 2010).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Suchman, DeCoste, Leigh, et al., 2010

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    It has been reported that focusing on a mother's capacity to mentalize about herself may be an important starting point for interventions designed to improve parent-child interactions.

    “Clinically, it has been reported that focusing on a mother’s capacity to mentalize about herself may be an important starting point for interventions designed to improve parent-child interactions (Suchman, DeCoste, Leigh, & Borelli, 2010).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Suchman, DeCoste, Leigh, & Borelli, 2010

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Mothers' capacity to mentalize about their children's mental states may be associated with a more general physiological arousal state - with increasing arousal decreasing the capacity to mentalize.

    “this finding may suggest that mothers’ capacity to mentalize about their children’s mental states may be associated with a more general physiological arousal state – with increasing arousal decreasing the capacity to mentalize.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    These structural changes may shape maternal cognition and behavior, and suggest potential periods optimal for receipt of intervention in at-risk mothers.

    “it is plausible that these structural changes may shape maternal cognition and behavior, and suggest potential periods optimal for receipt of intervention in at-risk mothers.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    We did not include an assessment of infant temperament.

    “We also did not include an assessment of infant temperament.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    We did not employ the PDI in this study.

    “Given the value of a self-report measure of reflective functioning when working with larger maternal samples, we did not employ the PDI in this study.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
52 of 52

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    There is a paucity of research examining the relationship between parental reflective functioning and specific components of affect regulation in parents.

    “However, there is a paucity of research that has examined the relationship between parental reflective functioning and specific components of affect regulation in parents.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The BSIM was designed to assess parenting-specific distress tolerance.

    “The BSIM was designed to assess parenting-specific distress tolerance.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The DTS-Regulation subscale consists of items that relate to the use of regulation strategies to avoid sources of distress.

    “This subscale consists of items that relate to the use of regulation strategies to avoid sources of distress.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The PASAT-C is a non-social task, unrelated to parenting, and required no assessment of self in relation to perceived distress tolerance.

    “Unlike the other measures employed here, the PASAT-C is a non-social task, unrelated to parenting, and required no assessment of self in relation to perceived distress tolerance.”
4 of 4

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Statistics recomputed

Every reported test result, recomputed from its test statistic and degrees of freedom. A result shows as not adding up only once an independent check has confirmed it.

  • Consistentr(59) = 0.1reported p = .47 · recomputed p = .443

    “r(59) = .10, p = .47”

  • Consistentt(20) = 2.04reported p = .05 · recomputed p = .055

    “t(20) = 2.04, p = .05”

  • ConsistentF(2, 110) = 3.73reported p = .03 · recomputed p = .027

    “F(2,110) = 3.73, p = .03”

3 of 3

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Blood pressure is described as measured during the BSIM

    Minor

    The results describe systolic blood pressure during the interaction, but the procedure specifies measurements immediately before, immediately after, and approximately ten minutes after it-not during it.

1 of 1

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Lejuez, 2003, A modified computer version of the paced auditory serial addition task (PASAT) as a laboratory-based stressor, The Behavior Therapist, 26, 290
  2. Rutherford, 2011, Primary maternal preoccupation: Using neuroimaging techniques to explore the parental brain, Psyche, 973

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Related

Authors
Rutherford, H. J. V., Booth, C. R., Luyten, P., Bridgett, D. J., & Mayes, L. C.
Affiliations
  • Yale University (US)
  • University College London (GB)
  • Northern Illinois University (US)
Corresponding author
Rutherford, Helena J.V.
ORCID
Venue
Infant Behavior and Development
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2015-08
Volume
40
Pages
54-63
ISSN
0163-6383 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.infbeh.2015.04.005
PMC
PMC4526429
OpenAlex
W624334545
Semantic Scholar
0f3f6f6f950740f2f4af3f31a0262cfc1f212f71
Cited by
149
References
46
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 3 · 2012: 1
FWCI
15.27
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Infant Behavior and Development (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • Lirias (KU Leuven) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Anna Freud Centre
  • NIH (NICHD R21 HD072574-01)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
parental reflective functioning, distress tolerance, motherhood, mentalization, parenting, blood pressure, heart rate, parenting support
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Blood Pressure, Child, Female, Heart Rate, Humans, Mother-Child Relations, Mothers, Stress, Psychological, Parenting, Self Report

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-09.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-09.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

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