Maternal reflective functioning, mother–infant affective communication, and infant attachment: Exploring the link between mental states and observed caregiving behavior in the intergenerational transmission of attachment
Abstract
This study examines the link between mental representations and maternal behavior within the intergenerational transmission of attachment. Maternal reflective functioning was hypothesized to predict the quality of mother-infant affective communication based on the AMBIANCE measure. Each of these measures was also considered as a predictor of the quality of infant attachment. The subjects were 45 mothers and their 10-14-month-old infants. Results supported each of the study's major hypotheses. The AMBIANCE measure and the reflective functioning measure had a strong negative correlation. Thus, the level of disruption in mother-infant affective communication was inversely related to the level of maternal reflective functioning. The AMBIANCE measure was also shown to be a very good predictor of infant attachment. Mothers with high AMBIANCE scores were more likely to have infants classified as disorganized or resistant, whereas mothers with low AMBIANCE scores were more likely to have infants classified as secure. A linear regression analysis indicated that maternal behavior mediates the impact of maternal reflective functioning upon infant attachment. Implications for attachment theory and early intervention are explored.
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The ability to link sensory cues with the underlying needs of an infant, and differentially respond to such needs, is thought to be the basis for establishing secure mother-infant attachment.
“In addition, the ability to link these sensory cues with the underlying needs of an infant, and differentially respond to such needs, is thought to be the basis for establishing secure mother-infant attachment (15–17).”
From What’s in a smile? Maternal brain responses to infant facial cues (2008) · cites this paper as [16]
Maternal PDI-RF and behavior are closely related.
“Strong support for the hypothesis according to which maternal PDI-RF and behavior are closely related was also found by Grienenberger et al. (2005) in a low risk sample”
From Mentalizing makes parenting work: a review about parental reflective functioning and clinical interventions to improve it (2017) · cites this paper as Grienenberger et al., 2005
Parental reflective functioning was closely related to maternal behavior and the child's attachment security.
“The first empirical studies using PDI-RF showed that parental RF was closely related to maternal behavior and the child’s attachment security (Grienenberger et al., 2005; Slade et al., 2005).”
From Mentalizing makes parenting work: a review about parental reflective functioning and clinical interventions to improve it (2017) · cites this paper as Grienenberger et al., 2005
Mothers with impaired parental reflective functioning were significantly more often inclined to disrupt affective communication with their children, exhibiting difficulty in regulating their infants' fear and distress, thus failing to provide them with a feeling of security.
“mothers with impaired parental reflective functioning were significantly more often inclined to disrupt affective communication with their children, exhibiting difficulty in regulating their infants’ fear and distress, thus failing to provide them with a feeling of security”
From Mentalizing makes parenting work: a review about parental reflective functioning and clinical interventions to improve it (2017) · cites this paper as Grienenberger et al., 2005
The relationship between parental RF and infant attachment disorganization was mediated by atypical parental behaviours during interaction with their infants.
“Grienenberger et al. (2005) showed that the relationship between parental RF and infant attachment disorganization was mediated by atypical parental behaviours during interaction with their infants.”
From INTERGENERATIONAL TRANSMISSION OF ATTACHMENT IN ABUSED AND NEGLECTED MOTHERS: THE ROLE OF TRAUMA-SPECIFIC REFLECTIVE FUNCTIONING: Attachment, Reflective Function, and Trauma (2015) · cites this paper as Grienenberger et al. (2005)
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- Authors
- Kelly, K., Slade, A., & Grienenberger, J. F.
- Affiliations
- Pennsylvania State University (US)
- City University of New York (US)
- Wright Institute (US)
- Corresponding author
- Grienenberger, John F.
- ORCID
- Slade, Arietta
- Venue
- Attachment & Human Development
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2005-09
- Volume
- 7
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 299-311
- ISSN
- 1461-6734 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-2988
- OpenAlex
- W2128383933
- Cited by
- 553
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 32 · 2019: 36 · 2018: 38 · 2017: 38 · 2016: 42 · 2015: 43 · 2014: 27 · 2013: 38 · 2012: 23
- FWCI
- 16.49
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Attachment & Human Development (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Keywords
- maternal reflective functioning, infant attachment, intergenerational transmission of attachment, caregiver behavior, disorganized attachment, resistant attachment, secure attachment, mental representation
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Affect, Analysis of Variance, Female, Humans, Infant, Longitudinal Studies, Mental Processes, Mother-Child Relations, Nonverbal Communication, Object Attachment, Psychological Tests, Psychological Theory, Linear Models, Child of Impaired Parents, Parenting
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