Early maternal reflective functioning and infant emotional regulation in a preterm infant sample at 6 months corrected age.
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OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the influence of maternal reflective functioning (RF) on 6-month-old infants' emotional self-regulating abilities in preterm infant-mother dyads. METHODS: 25 preterm (gestational age 28-34.5 weeks) infants' affect, gaze toward mother, and self-soothing behaviors (thumb-sucking and playing with clothing) were measured during the still-face procedure at 6 months corrected age. Maternal RF was measured at 7-15 days post-delivery using the Parent Development Interview. RESULTS: Infants with high RF mothers showed the most negative affect during the still-face episode (M = 21.33s, SE = 5.44), whereas infants with low RF mothers showed the most negative affect in the reunion episode (M = 18.14s, SE = 3.69). Infants with high RF mothers showed significantly more self-soothing behaviors when distressed (Ms > 14.5s) than infants with low RF mothers (Ms < 1s), p's < .01. CONCLUSION: Maternal RF was associated with infants' self-regulating behavior, providing preliminary evidence for the regulatory role of maternal RF in preterm infants' emotion regulation capacity.
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Preterm infants of high PDI-RF mothers showed the most negative affects as well as more self-soothing behavior during the Still Face procedure, whereas infants whose mothers were rated lower on PDI-RF exhibited the most negative affects during the reunion episode.
“Heron-Delaney et al. (2016) found that preterm infants of high PDI-RF mothers showed the most negative affects as well as more self-soothing behavior during the Still Face procedure, whereas infants whose mothers were rated lower on PDI-RF exhibited the most negative affects during the reunion-episode.”
From Mentalizing makes parenting work: a review about parental reflective functioning and clinical interventions to improve it (2017) · cites this paper as Heron-Delaney et al., 2016
Low maternal RF was found in mothers whose children suffered from anxiety disorders, impairment in emotion regulation, and externalizing behaviors.
“Low maternal RF was found in mothers whose children suffered from anxiety disorders (Esbjørn et al., 2013), impairment in emotion regulation (Heron-Delaney et al., 2016), and externalizing behaviors (Ensink et al., 2016a; Smaling et al., 2016b).”
From Mentalizing makes parenting work: a review about parental reflective functioning and clinical interventions to improve it (2017) · cites this paper as Heron-Delaney et al., 2016
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- Authors
- Heron-Delaney, M., Kenardy, J. A., Brown, E. A., Jardine, C., Bogossian, F., Neuman, L., de Dassel, T., & Pritchard, M.
- Affiliations
- The University of Queensland (AU)
- Monash University (AU)
- Australian Catholic University (AU)
- Venue
- Journal of Pediatric Psychology
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2016-01-24
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 906-914
- ISSN
- 0146-8693 (ISSN-L)
- 1465-735X
- OpenAlex
- W2267212149
- Cited by
- 52
- References
- 55
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 3
- FWCI
- 3.49
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Pediatric Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Monash University Research Portal (Monash University) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
- Research Bank (Australian Catholic University) (submittedVersion)
- HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Infant Development and Preterm Care
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
- Keywords
- maternal reflective functioning, infant emotional regulation, preterm infants, self-soothing, still-face procedure, infant negative affect, parent-infant dyads, maternal mentalization
- MeSH terms
- Self-Control, Emotions, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Premature, Male, Mother-Child Relations, Mothers, Psychological Tests, Infant Behavior
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