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Cited by 49Attachment and Relationship DynamicsPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology ResearchChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Are maternal reflective functioning and attachment security associated with preadolescent mentalization?

Open access
Rosso, Anna Maria, Viterbori, Paola, Scopesi, Alda M.·2015·Frontiers in Psychology
DOI 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01134PMC PMC4523702
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Abstract

This study investigated the impact of maternal reflective functioning (RF) and attachment security on children's mentalization. The Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) was administered to mothers in a sample of 41 mother-preadolescent dyads. AAI transcripts were rated in terms of the Berkeley AAI System (Main and Goldwyn, 1998) and the Reflective Functioning Scale (RFS; Fonagy et al., 1998). Preadolescent mentalization was assessed using a semi-structured interview adapted from O'Connor and Hirsch (1999) and also by analyzing mental-state talk produced during an autobiographical interview. Relationships between maternal RF and children's mentalization were analyzed, with consideration given to the different RFS markers and references to positive, negative, and mixed-ambivalent mental states. Children's mentalization was positively correlated with the mother's RF, particularly the mother's ability to mentalize negative or mixed-ambivalent mental states. No significant differences in mentalization were observed between children of secure and insecure mothers.

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  1. Bruner J. (1986). Acting Minds: Possible Words. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
  2. Fonagy P. Gergely G. Jurist E. L. Target M. (2002). Affect Regulation, Mentalisation, and the Development of the Self. New York, NY: Other Press.
  3. Fonagy P. Target M. (2008). “ Attachment, trauma and psychoanalysis,” in Mind to Mind. Infant Research, Neuroscience and Psychoanalysis, eds Jurist E. L. Slade A. Bergner S. (New York, NY: Other Press), 15– 49.
  4. Harris P. L. (1989). Children and Emotion: The Development of Psychological Understanding. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
  5. Steele H. Steele M. (2008). “ On the origins of reflective functioning,” in Mentalization: Theoretical Considerations, Research Findings, and Clinical Implications. Psychoanalytic Inquiry Book Series, ed. Busch F. N. (New York, NY: The Analytic Press), 133– 158.

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Authors
Rosso, A. M., Viterbori, P., & Scopesi, A. M.
Affiliations
University of Genoa (IT)
ORCID
Viterbori, Paola
Venue
Frontiers in Psychology
Publisher
Frontiers Media SA
Published
2015-08-04
Volume
6
Pages
1134-1134
ISSN
1664-1078 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01134
PMC
PMC4523702
OpenAlex
W1588837231
Cited by
49
References
70
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 1
FWCI
3.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Frontiers in Psychology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • CINECA IRIS Institutial Research Information System (University of Genoa) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
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
maternal reflective functioning, attachment security, mentalization, negative mental states, mother-child dyads, Adult Attachment Interview, autobiographical interviews, mental state talk

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