Resolving trauma: The unique contribution of trauma-specific mentalization to maternal insightfulness.

Resolving trauma may contribute to mental health and parenting in mother with histories of childhood maltreatment. The concept of trauma-specific reflective functioning (T-RF) was developed to assess the complexity of thought processes regarding trauma. The study aimed to validate the T-RF scale applied to the Trauma Meaning-Making Interview by examining its psychometric properties, associations with measures of trauma-processing strategies, maternal reflective functioning and mental health (depression and post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]), as well as evaluating whether T-RF offered a unique contribution to maternal insightfulness. Good construct validity of the T-RF scale was confirmed in a sample of 112 mothers with histories of childhood maltreatment using an independent coding system of trauma-processing. Better mentalization of trauma was prospectively associated with higher parental reflective functioning and mothers with high T-RF were much more likely to be insightful regarding the child's mental states than non-reflective mothers and mothers with limited T-RF. The association between T-RF and insightfulness was observed even when controlling for maternal reflective functioning, trauma-processing strategies, maternal education and sociodemographic risk. T-RF was associated neither with depression, PTSD nor the characteristics of trauma. Findings suggest that mentalizing trauma would be an important protective factor in the intergenerational trajectories of trauma.

Parental Reflective Capacities: A Scoping Review of Mindful Parenting and Parental Reflective Functioning.

Objectives: Two key parental reflective capacities-mindful parenting (MP) and parental reflective functioning (PRF) - have been shown to promote healthy parent-child relationships through parents' increased sensitivity and responsiveness to their children's needs in spite of parenting stressors. Despite the theoretical overlap between these two constructs, researchers have continued to examine them independently. Therefore, the purpose of this scoping review was to review the overlapping and distinctive outcomes and correlates in the empirical MP and PRF literatures. Method: A comprehensive literature search across the MP and PRF literature for studies published from 2005 through early 2020 (pre-COVID-19 pandemic) was conducted. Results: A review of 301 articles (n = 180 MP and n = 121 PRF) revealed overlapping study outcomes and correlates, including improvement in parent and child well-being, parenting behaviors, and attachment. Both MP and PRF literatures suggest MP and PRF are amenable to intervention-induced changes, although mostly documented in White mothers, which results may not be generalizable to diverse populations. Conclusions: Researchers should consider the impact MP and PRF have on positive family relationships. Results suggest that scholars should consider investigating and intervening on MP and PRF simultaneously. Specifically, results identified MP and PRF convergent associations and perhaps synergistic impacts on positive parenting behaviors. Limitations and future directions are discussed. Preregistration: This review was not preregistered.

Characterizing the heterogeneity of disruptions in the resolution of trauma among women exposed to childhood maltreatment.

The previously observed heterogeneity in developmental and intergenerational trajectories of childhood trauma may root from interindividual differences in the way trauma-exposed individuals have resolved these experiences. The current study explored whether distinctive patterns of impaired mentalization in relation to trauma could be identified in a sample of 825 pregnant women who experienced childhood maltreatment and whether these heterogeneous patterns were marked by significant differences in internalized and externalized problems during pregnancy, intimate partner violence, personality dysfunctions, and antenatal attachment. A latent profile analysis applied to the seven subscales of the Failure to Mentalize Trauma Questionnaire unraveled interindividual variability in mentalizing impairments among pregnant women exposed to childhood maltreatment by identifying five distinctive types of psychological responses to trauma, each being associated in cross-sectional analyses with a specific set of symptoms and dysfunctions. Overall, the study highlights the need for tailored interventions based on the individuals' specific impairments in mentalizing trauma and calls for future developmental research exploring the longitudinal correlates of the five documented profiles of trauma processing.

Mentalizing individuals, families and systems: Towards a translational socioecological approach.

Mentalization-based treatment (MBT) is a spectrum of interventions that share a central focus on improving the capacity for mentalizing. Although MBT was originally developed as a treatment for individuals with borderline personality disorder, its scope and focus have been broadened to become a socioecological approach that stresses the role of broader sociocultural factors in determining the closely related capacities for mentalizing and epistemic trust. This special issue brings together some of the newest developments in MBT that illustrate this shift. These contributions also highlight several current limitations in mentalization-based approaches, providing important pointers for further research. In this editorial, we first outline the broadening scope of the mentalizing approach, and then provide a discussion of each of the contributions to this special issue in the context of the need for further research concerning some of the key assumptions of mentalization-based approaches and their implementation in clinical practice. We close this editorial with considerations concerning future research.

Corrigendum: Minding mentalizing - convergent validity of the Mentalization Breakdown Interview.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1380532.].

Reflective functioning and emotion regulation in adolescents with a history of sexual offending: a comparative study with a non-offending control group.

BACKGROUND: Sexual offenses encompass a diverse array of behaviors across various contexts, affecting numerous individuals. Despite the prevalence of sexual offending among adolescents, there is still a limited understanding of this population. To contribute further to the literature in this field, the present study was conducted to compare a group of male adolescents convicted of sexual offenses with a control group in terms of reflective functioning (RF), emotion regulation (ER) strategies, and emotion dysregulation (ED). METHODS: 60 male adolescents aged 12 to 18 years (M = 16.90; SD = 0.97) who had been convicted of at least one serious sexual offense were recruited from male adolescents referred by juvenile courts to the Legal Medicine Organization in Mashhad, Iran, and compared with a control group of non-offending adolescents consisting of 60 male adolescents aged 12 to 18 years (M = 16.97; SD = 0.82) who were attending school. The groups were matched on age and education level. RESULTS: A comparison between these two groups revealed that adolescents with a history of sexual offending exhibited poorer RF capacity, greater use of suppression as an ER strategy, and higher scores in all ED domains (p's < 0.001) except non-acceptance of emotional responses compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that RF, ER strategies, and ED need to be considered as important psychological factors in understanding and treating adolescents with a history of sexual offending.

Reflective functioning mediates the relationship between insecure adult attachment and the severity of prolonged grief symptoms.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the mediation role of reflective functioning (i.e., certainty and uncertainty about mental states) in the relationship between insecure attachment (i.e., attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety ) and the severity of prolonged grief symptoms. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 329 bereaved participants (51.7% females, mean age= 46.94 ± 14.62 years). Participants completed the Prolonged Grief Scale (PG-13), the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ), and the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (RFQ). Demographic and bereavement-related information were also collected. Results: Certainty about mental states fully mediated the relationship between both the attachment avoidance and attachement anxiety and severity of prolonged grief symptoms. Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that reflective functioning impairment, specifically certainty about mental states of self and others, mediate the paths from insecure attachment to prolonged grief symptoms. This suggests that improving reflective functioning may contribute to the treatment bereaved individuals at risk of PGD.

Childhood Trauma and Parental Burnout: The Mediating Role of Difficulties in Emotion Regulation and Reflective Functioning.

This study investigated the mediating role of difficulties in emotion regulation and reflective functioning in the association between childhood trauma and parental burnout. The participants included 402 mothers with children ranging in age from 1 to 6 years. Mothers completed the Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA) the parental reflective functioning questionnaire (PRFQ), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Data analysis was performed using SPSS 26, and Hayes Macro in SPSS was also used to analyze the effects of mediating variables. The results show that although childhood trauma and parental burnout do not have a direct and significant relationship, there is a significant indirect relationship through difficulties in emotional regulation and the two factors of parental reflective functioning, i.e., pre-mentalization, interest and curiosity about mental states. These findings contribute to the understanding of the importance of variables such as difficulties in emotion regulation and reflective functioning, which play a mediating role in the relationship between childhood trauma and parental burnout. This suggests that designing interventions and prevention to reduce parental burnout based on emotion regulation and reflective functioning may be beneficial.

Adverse childhood experiences and psychological maladjustment in adolescence: The protective role of epistemic trust, mentalized affectivity, and reflective functioning.

INTRODUCTION: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are psychosocial factors acknowledged as significant contributors to health consequences later in adolescence, including psychological maladjustment. The research suggests that, at a transdiagnostic and transtheoretical level, working on restoring epistemic trust (ET), mentalized affectivity (MA), and reflective functioning (RF) in adolescents with ACEs assumes a central role in the therapeutic process. However, there are still few studies that attempted to investigate the specific role of these sociocognitive factors in the detrimental positive association between levels of experienced ACEs during childhood and psychological maladjustment in nonclinical adolescents. METHODS: A community sample of 306 Italian cisgender adolescents (61.4% assigned females at birth; age range 13-19 years old; Mage = 16.1, SD = 1.64) self-reported ACEs (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form), psychological maladjustment (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire), ET (Epistemic Trust, Mistrust and Credulity Questionnaire), MA (Brief-Mentalized Affectivity Scale for Adolescence), and RF (Reflective Functioning Questionnaire). A multiple mediation regression analysis has been performed to explore the association between ACEs and psychological maladjustment through the interaction with socio-cognitive factors. RESULTS: ACEs are positive predictors of psychological maladjustment later in adolescence. Regardless of gender differences, epistemic mistrust and credulity, processing and expressing emotions, and uncertainty about mental states mediated this association, while epistemic trust, identifying emotions, and certainty about mental states did not configure as significant mediators. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that ET disruptions and deficits in RF are risk factors, while MA is a protective factor within the link between ACEs and psychological maladjustment in adolescence. These links help to specify the role of sociocognitive factors in the development of mental problems in adolescents who have been exposed to adverse experiences in childhood.

Minding mentalizing - convergent validity of the Mentalization Breakdown Interview.

Objectives: Mentalizing difficulties are central to borderline personality disorder (BPD), have severe consequences, and are an explicit focus in mentalization-based treatment. The significance of mentalizing capacity as a predictor or mediator of change is however still uncertain due to a scarcity of research. The Mentalization Breakdown Interview (MBI) was developed as a time saving tool for studying psychotherapy processes and outcome in borderline pathology. This study aimed to investigate the convergent validity of reflective functioning (RF) ratings based on the MBI (MBI-RF) by a comparison with the gold standard, i.e., RF assessments based on the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI-RF). A secondary aim was to investigate how MBI-RF relates to core symptoms of BPD, levels of functional impairment and symptom distress compared with AAI-RF. Method: Forty-five patients with BPD or significant BPD traits were included. MBI-RF and AAI-RF were rated using the Reflective Functioning Scale. Levels of MBI-RF and AAI-RF and the correlation between the measures were calculated, as well as their associations with the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, Levels of Personality Functioning-Brief Form 2.0, Work and Social Adjustment Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire, Depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, self-harm, suicide attempts, and PD diagnostics. Results: The correlation between MBI-RF and AAI-RF was 0.79 (p<0.01), indicating high convergent validity. There were few significant associations between MBI-RF and AAI-RF and clinical measures. Conclusions: The study provides support for the convergent validity of the MBI as a BPD-focused RF assessment method. The MBI has the potential as a time saving, reliable and valid method to be applied in treatment research on patients with borderline pathology. The results indicate that measures of MBI-RF and AAI-RF are different from clinical symptoms. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT04157907.

Improvements in the quality of the parent-child relationship following treatment with an integrated family approach.

Objective: This study investigated changes in the emotional availability of the parent and the child in the dyadic relationship, parental reflective functioning, and parental perception of the relationship with their child following treatment with an integrated family approach in adult and child mental health care services. The aim of the study was to investigate if an integrated family approach in treatment contributes to good practice in mental health care. Background: Children of parents with a mental disorder are at increased risk for developing mental health problems themselves during lifetime. Infants are extremely vulnerable for environmental influences. Parents with mental disorders are at risk for mis-attuned behavior and non-optimal emotional availability. This increases the risk of adverse cascading effects on the parent-child relationship and child development. A secure parent-child relationship is an important protective factor against the intergenerational transmission of mental disorders. Although treatment of the parental mental disorder is important, it does not automatically change undesirable patterns in the parent-child relationship. Therefore, an integrated family approach to mental health treatment is recommended. Methods: This study involved a mixed methods design using questionnaires, an observation instrument and semi-structured interviews. The variables examined were the quality of the parent-child interaction, the parental perspective on their relationship with the child, their problems with child upbringing, and on their parental reflective functioning. The clinical sample consisted of 50 patients with a variety of mental disorders and their young children. Results: After finishing the integrated treatment the quality of the parent-child interaction had improved significantly. Likewise, we found a significant improvement in parental perception regarding the relationship with the child and the parental role. The majority of the parents interviewed showed that they were better able to mentalize about themselves, their child and their relationship with the child, but the data from the questionnaire showed mixed results regarding parents' reflective functioning. Conclusion: Treatment with an integrated family approach to mental health care in which the parental role of the patient, the young child, and the parent-child relationship are integrated in treatment, can be a valuable addition to the current practice of mental health care in which patients are commonly perceived as individuals.

Interplay of Dyadic Consensus, Reflective Functioning, and Perinatal Affective Difficulties in Modulating Fear of COVID-19 among First-Time Mothers: A Mediation Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated fears and anxieties, potentially influencing maternal perinatal mental health. This study addresses a gap in the literature on fear of COVID-19 in pregnant women, aiming to identify contributing factors. METHOD: Participants were 401 primiparous women with an average age of 34 years (SD = 4.56) who were recruited through the National Health System during birth support courses. They completed a series of self-reported instruments via an online survey, providing information on their levels of reflective functioning, dyadic consensus, perinatal maternal affectivity, and fear of COVID-19. Pearson's correlation and mediation analysis via a generalized linear model were implemented to analyze the collected data. RESULTS: The relationship between dyadic consensus and fear of COVID-19 was significant and negative. Furthermore, a significant parallel mediation involving perinatal maternal affectivity and reflective functioning was found to the extent that, when these factors were inserted into the model, the direct association between dyadic consensus and fear of COVID-19 became non-significant (total mediation). CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight the importance of dyadic adjustment in alleviating maternal COVID-19 fear, emphasizing interventions promoting couple functioning, mentalization, and addressing affective difficulties. Such approaches are vital for supporting expecting mothers during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Socially isolated, but not lonely in lockdown: Exploring the role of reflective functioning as a protective factor in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.

INTRODUCTION: Loneliness is a pressing public mental health issue. So far, there has been a paucity of investigations focused on the individual differences modulating this subjective feeling in the face of difficult circumstances, e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, the present study aimed to investigate the role of mentalization; given that the construct comprises reflection abilities that might be particularly relevant to the pandemic's interpersonal challenges. METHODS: A survey representative of the German population was conducted from May to June 2020 (N = 2503). We examined mentalization, operationalized as reflective functioning (RF) and measured using the Mentalization Questionnaire (MZQ), both as a protective factor against loneliness on its own and as a moderator of the association of social isolation with loneliness. RESULTS: Of the overall sample, 822 (32.8 %) individuals reported social isolation. Worse RF was moderately associated with higher levels of loneliness (r = 0.433, p < .001). A linear regression model (controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and general personality pathology) confirmed this positive association, but also indicated an interaction effect of RF and social isolation in the statistical prediction of loneliness. Stratified models showed that RF was a comparatively weaker statistical predictor of loneliness among the socially isolated. DISCUSSION: This representative population study expanded our knowledge about the factors shaping loneliness in the population. RF emerged as a potentially modifiable protective influence. Further research needs to clarify the mechanisms through which it mitigates loneliness. LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional design does not give insight into the temporal association of RF and loneliness.

Navigating foster care: how parental drug use and caregiver attitudes shape children's mentalization processes-an exploratory longitudinal follow-up study: study protocol.

Background: The current research concept of mentalization is used in the study to clearly identify affective and cognitive abilities of the caregiver-child dyad with the aim of compensating deficits on both sides with psychological-psychotherapeutic strategies. Methods: The objective of this explorative, longitudinal intervention study is to provide an in-depth understanding of the psycho-social background of 30 children aged 6-12 years living in institutional or family-centered foster care. Data will be collected at three time points: before, after and 12 months after participating in the newly developed group intervention, which intends to address the particular needs of children of drug abusing parents living in foster care in the latency period. The study is conducted at the Faculty of Psychology of the University of Vienna in collaboration with the Association "Dialogue" (Verein Dialog). The treatment duration spans 5 months, during which two specifically trained psychotherapists conduct 10 group sessions for children and three group sessions for foster caregivers. All statistical analyses will consider the type of data available. Therefore, the primary outcome of the study will be assessed via the Friedman test due to the ordinal dependent variable as it is the non-parametric alternative to the one-way ANOVA for repeated measures. In addition, the Mann-Whitney U test is used to compare differences between two independent groups (children living in institutional foster care vs. family foster care). To assess potential correlations regarding the child and caregivers' capacity to mentalize, Spearman correlations (ρ) are conducted. To examine the secondary outcome, apart from the methods previously outlined, we will also utilize qualitative thematic analysis. Discussion: The present study uses the current research concept of mentalization to identify affective and cognitive abilities of the caregiver-child dyad with the aim of compensating deficits on both sides with psychological-psychotherapeutic strategies. There are some limitations of the study to mention: the small sample size does not allow to generalize the results. Due to the lack of a comparison group, a randomized control study (RCT) was not conducted. The authors are aware of these limitations. However, the studies' findings, will help to deduce research questions for further studies.

A preliminary validation of PMQ-A four-factor questionnaire measuring parental mentalizing.

The present study describes the construction and preliminary validation of a new parental mentalizing scale, PMQ. Based on theory, we hypothesized that one higher-order parental mentalizing factor would comprise four dimensions of parental mentalizing: (1) Parental self-mentalizing (SELF), (2) Parental child-mentalizing (CHILD), (3) Effort (E), and (4) Curiosity (C). After modifying the content of one factor (Effort > Lack of Effort, LE), four-factor structure with one higher-order factor was confirmed in data collected from parents of children aged two to 6 years through social media and email lists (N = 321, 10% male). All factors loaded significantly on the higher-order factor, with acceptable internal consistencies. Next, PMQ factors were compared with the factors of a previously validated questionnaire, parental reflective functioning questionnaire (PRFQ). The PMQ and PRFQ factors were consistently and significantly correlated, indicating the validity of the PMQ as a measure of parental mentalization ability. The continuation of PMQ validation is discussed.

The mediating role of reflective functioning and general psychopathology in the relationship between childhood conduct disorder and adult aggression among offenders.

BACKGROUND: The nature of the pathway from conduct disorder (CD) in adolescence to antisocial behavior in adulthood has been debated and the role of certain mediators remains unclear. One perspective is that CD forms part of a general psychopathology dimension, playing a central role in the developmental trajectory. Impairment in reflective functioning (RF), i.e., the capacity to understand one's own and others' mental states, may relate to CD, psychopathology, and aggression. Here, we characterized the structure of psychopathology in adult male-offenders and its role, along with RF, in mediating the relationship between CD in their adolescence and current aggression. METHODS: A secondary analysis of pre-treatment data from 313 probation-supervised offenders was conducted, and measures of CD symptoms, general and specific psychopathology factors, RF, and aggression were evaluated through clinical interviews and questionnaires. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that a bifactor model best fitted the sample's psychopathology structure, including a general psychopathology factor (p factor) and five specific factors: internalizing, disinhibition, detachment, antagonism, and psychoticism. The structure of RF was fitted to the data using a one-factor model. According to our mediation model, CD significantly predicted the p factor, which was positively linked to RF impairments, resulting in increased aggression. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the critical role of a transdiagnostic approach provided by RF and general psychopathology in explaining the link between CD and aggression. Furthermore, they underscore the potential utility of treatments focusing on RF, such as mentalization-based treatment, in mitigating aggression in offenders with diverse psychopathologies.

Ageist attitudes and psychological distress in older adults: The moderating role of reflective functioning.

Ageist attitudes have been associated with various aspects of psychological functioning in older adults. According to Terror Management Theory, older adults may be seen as a reminder of human demise and death, and research has demonstrated links between ageist attitudes and compromised abilities to seek and maintain close personal relationships, which ward off awareness of one's mortality. Accordingly, the current work examined whether reflective functioning, or the ability to comprehend one's own and others' mental states, mitigates the negative psychological manifestations of ageist attitudes in older adults. Data was collected from 686 participants aged 60-94 (Mage = 72.64, SD = 6.28), who completed scales assessing ageist attitudes, reflective functioning, and psychological distress, as well as relevant socio-demographic information. Results indicated that ageist attitudes were linked with low levels of reflective functioning and enhanced psychological distress. Moreover, reflective functioning moderated the ageist attitudes-distress link, which was not significant in individuals reporting high levels of reflective functioning. This study provides insight into how the ability to comprehend others' mental states mitigates the adverse psychological effects of ageist attitudes and highlights the importance of examining relationship-enhancing personal factors within the context of negative ageing perceptions and psychological distress.

Spillover effects on the relationship with the partner of a mentalization-based intervention for pregnant women.

The birth of a child has been associated with a decline in couple satisfaction, which has implications for the child's social-emotional development. This study investigated the potential spillover effect on pregnant women's perceptions of their relationships with their partners of the Supporting the Transition to and Engagement in Parenthood (STEP) program, a brief trauma-informed mentalization-based prenatal group intervention. Participants (94% White) were recruited in prenatal clinics and through online advertisements in Quebec, Canada. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from participants assigned to the STEP program (n = 42) and those receiving treatment-as-usual (TAU; n = 125). Women participating in STEP reported significant improvements in their relationships with their partners compared to those assigned to TAU. More precisely, they reported higher couple satisfaction, enhanced communication, and increased interest in their partners' emotional experience. The qualitative analysis further substantiated these results, with participants reporting having involved their partners in their pregnancy, shared their insights about themselves with their partners and gained fresh perspectives on their relationships. Participants in STEP also expressed sharing program materials with their partners and considered that such interventions should be extended to expecting fathers. This study underscores the potential of mentalization-based interventions to indirectly contribute to couple relationships, which may have positive implications for parenting and the infant.

Se ha asociado el nacimiento de un niño con una disminución en la satisfacción de la pareja, lo cual tiene implicaciones para el desarrollo socioemocional del niño. Este estudio investigó el potencial efecto derrame en las relaciones de mujeres embarazadas con sus parejas, del programa STEP, un grupo prenatal de intervención breve, informado sobre el trauma y con base en la mentalización. A las participantes (94% blancos) se les reclutó en clínicas prenatales y por medio de anuncios en línea en Quebec, Canadá. Se recogió información tanto cuantitativa como cualitativa de las participantes asignadas al programa STEP (n = 42) y de aquellas que recibían tratamiento como de costumbre (TAU; n = 125). Las mujeres que participaban en STEP reportaron significativas mejoras en las relaciones con sus parejas comparadas con aquellas asignadas al grupo TAU. Más precisamente, ellas reportaron una más alta satisfacción de acoplamiento, una mejorada comunicación y un aumento en el interés en la experiencia emocional de sus parejas. Los análisis cualitativos sustentaron además estos resultados, con reportes de las participantes de haber hecho a sus parejas partícipes en el embarazo, compartido su sentir acerca de sí mismas con sus parejas y haber adquirido perspectivas renovadas acerca de sus relaciones. Las participantes en STEP también expresaron que habían compartido materiales del programa con sus parejas y considerado que tales intervenciones deben extenderse a los papás que esperan un hijo. Este estudio subraya la potencialidad de las intervenciones con base en la mentalización para contribuir indirectamente a las relaciones de pareja, lo cual pudiera tener implicaciones positivas para la crianza y el infante.

Parental Reflective Functioning on the Parent Development Interview: A narrative review of measurement, association, and future directions.

A caregiver's capacity to mentalize is thought to be one of the most important features of secure parent-child relationships. Parental mentalizing can be measured using the Reflective Functioning (RF) coding system applied to the Parent Development Interview (PDI). In this narrative review, we summarize the research using this measure and synthesize what has been learnt about the predictors, correlates and sequelae of parental RF. Studies have consistently shown that PRF on the PDI is associated with both parent and child attachment and is an important factor in the intergenerational transmission of attachment. It is also related to the quality of parental representations, parent-child interactions, and child outcomes. While a number of social and clinical risk factors are associated with lower PRF, it is difficult to disentangle the unique contribution of each of these. We discuss these findings and present the direction of future work that is planned to expand and refine the PRF scale for the PDI.

Se piensa que la capacidad que tiene una persona que presta el cuidado para mentalizarse es una de las más importantes características de una segura relación entre progenitor y niño. La mentalización del progenitor se puede medir usando el sistema de codificación del Funcionamiento con Reflexión (RF) aplicado a la Entrevista de Desarrollo al Progenitor (PDI; Slade et al., 2004a; 2004b). En esta revisión narrativa, resumimos la investigación usando esta medida y sintetizamos lo que se ha aprendido acerca de los factores de predicción, las correlaciones y secuelas del RF del progenitor. Los estudios han mostrado consistentemente que el RF del progenitor (PRF) en la PDI se asocia tanto con la afectividad del progenitor como con la del niño y es un factor importante en la transmisión intergeneracional de la afectividad. También está relacionado con la calidad de las representaciones del progenitor, las interacciones progenitor­niño y los resultados en el niño. Mientras que un número de factores de riesgo sociales y clínicos se asocia con un PRF más bajo, es difícil desentrañar las contribuciones únicas de cada uno de estos aspectos. Discutimos estos resultados y presentamos la dirección del trabajo futuro que se planea para expandir y refinar la escala del PRF para la PDI.

Parental reflective functioning in mothers and fathers of preschoolers: Associations with adult attachment and parenting behavior.

Parental reflective functioning (PRF) is considered a key parental competence. Since most research on PRF has focused on infancy or the first years of life, there is a gap in our understanding of PRF among parents of older children. Therefore, we investigated PRF in mothers and fathers with preschool-aged children, examining associations between PRF, parent's romantic attachment, and observed parenting behavior. The sample comprised 50 mothers, 40 fathers, and their 5-year-old children. PRF was assessed using the parental reflective functioning questionnaire (PRFQ), parental romantic attachment was assessed using the experiences in close relationships scale-revised (ECR-R), and parenting behavior was assessed during a parent-child free-play interaction with the coding interactive behavior (CIB) coding system. Results showed that mothers scored higher on the interest and curiosity scale than fathers, indicating that mothers show a more active interest and curiosity in their child's mental states. Further, higher levels of attachment anxiety in fathers were associated with higher levels of pre-mentalizing modes. In mothers, higher levels of attachment avoidance were associated with lower levels of interest and curiosity. Finally, and unexpectedly, higher levels of interest and curiosity in mothers were associated with less sensitivity during free play. In summary, the study found meaningful associations between mothers' and fathers' romantic attachment and their PRF indicating a spill-over of their attachment strategies into their relationship with their child. Further, the study results suggest that very high levels of interest and curiosity in mothers reflect hypermentalizing.