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Cited by 215Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology ResearchAttachment and Relationship DynamicsMaternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Maternal mental representations of the child in an inner-city clinical sample: violence-related posttraumatic stress and reflective functioning.

Schechter, Daniel S., Coots, Tammy, Zeanah, Charles H., Davies, Mark, Coates, Susan W., Trabka, Kimberly A., Marshall, Randall D., Liebowitz, Michael R. +1 more·2005·Attachment & Human Development
DOI 10.1080/14616730500246011
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Abstract

Parental mental representations of the child have been described in the clinical literature as potentially useful risk-indicators for the intergenerational transmission of violent trauma. This study explored factors associated with the quality and content of maternal mental representations of her child and relationship with her child within an inner-city sample of referred, traumatized mothers. Specifically, it examined factors that have been hypothesized to support versus interfere with maternal self- and mutual-regulation of affect: posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and maternal reflective functioning (RF). More severe PTSD, irrespective of level of RF, was significantly associated with the distorted classification of non-balanced mental representations on the Working Model of the Child Interview (WMCI) within this traumatized sample. Higher Levels of RF, irrespective of PTSD severity, were significantly associated with the balanced classification of maternal mental representations on the WMCI. Level of maternal reflective functioning and severity of PTSD were not significantly correlated in this sample. Clinical implications are discussed.

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Crossref · 10.1080/14616730500246011

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  • A few empirical studies supported the notion that neither the severity of the traumatic events nor the severity of maternal PTSD symptoms predicted the levels of maternal reflective functioning about the child.

    “A few empirical studies (Schechter et al., 2005; Huth-Bocks et al., 2014; Stacks et al., 2014) supported the notion that neither the severity of the traumatic events nor the severity of maternal post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD) symptoms predicted the levels of maternal reflective functioning about the child.”

    From Mentalizing makes parenting work: a review about parental reflective functioning and clinical interventions to improve it (2017) · cites this paper as Schechter et al., 2005

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Authors
Schechter, D. S., Coots, T., Zeanah, C. H., Davies, M., Coates, S. W., Trabka, K. A., Marshall, R. D., Liebowitz, M. R., & Myers, M. M.
Affiliations
  • New York State Psychiatric Institute (US)
  • Tulane University (US)
  • Columbia University (US)
Corresponding author
Schechter, Daniel S.
ORCID
Venue
Attachment & Human Development
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2005-09
Volume
7
Issue
3
Pages
313-331
ISSN
  • 1461-6734 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-2988
DOI
10.1080/14616730500246011
OpenAlex
W2078667025
Cited by
215
References
47
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 4
FWCI
6.17
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Attachment & Human Development (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (K23MH068405, MH 068405)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
Keywords
reflective functioning, post-traumatic stress disorder, intergenerational trauma, mother-child relationship, emotion regulation, risk indicators
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Child Abuse, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Infant, Mental Processes, Middle Aged, Mother-Child Relations, Poverty Areas, Risk Factors, Social Perception, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, United States, Violence, Logistic Models, Child of Impaired Parents, Parenting

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