A study of the effect of maternal depressive symptoms on the mother-infant relationship and protective effect of maternal reflective functioning
Year: 2012
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study sought to replicate and extend findings on the effect of maternal depressive symptoms and their impact on the mother-infant relationship with regard to reflective functioning. The current sample included 101 mother-infant dyads who participated in a longitudinal study seeking to understand the effects of a traumatic childhood and how those experiences impact parenting. Measures included an assessment of depressive symptoms, an interview assessing reflective functioning capacity, and observation of mother-infant interaction. Previous findings were replicated with regard to significant correlations between parenting and reflective functioning. The current study did not find evidence for parenting mediating the relationship between reflective functioning and attachment. However, the present study did find evidence of reflective functioning being a moderator in the relationship between depression and parenting when controlling for risk. Findings of this study support the need for further research to understand how and why reflective functioning may be an important focus for future interventions.
Source: Human Biology
Author: Kristyn Wong
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2110652947