The role of maternal reflective functioning on child mentalizing and child aggression: the influence of coaching

Objective To examine the relationship between maternal reflective functioning (RF) and child aggression and whether this relationship is mediated by child’s precursors of Theory of Mind (ToM). The influence of coaching on maternal reflective functioning and child aggression is also examined. Method The sample consisted of 85 mother-infant dyads. Mothers were allocated to a high or low risk group based on maternal characteristics. Half of the high risk mothers were randomly assigned to a coaching group. Maternal reflective functioning was assessed prenatally and when children were 20 months of age by Pregnancy Interview (PI) and Parental Development Interview (PDI). Mothers were asked to aggressive symptoms in their child. Children’s precursors of ToM were measured at 20 months by an imitation task, a visual perspectives task and a discrepant desires task. Results Maternal prenatal reflective functioning was found to be negatively related to child aggressive behaviour. However...Show moreObjective To examine the relationship between maternal reflective functioning (RF) and child aggression and whether this relationship is mediated by child’s precursors of Theory of Mind (ToM). The influence of coaching on maternal reflective functioning and child aggression is also examined. Method The sample consisted of 85 mother-infant dyads. Mothers were allocated to a high or low risk group based on maternal characteristics. Half of the high risk mothers were randomly assigned to a coaching group. Maternal reflective functioning was assessed prenatally and when children were 20 months of age by Pregnancy Interview (PI) and Parental Development Interview (PDI). Mothers were asked to aggressive symptoms in their child. Children’s precursors of ToM were measured at 20 months by an imitation task, a visual perspectives task and a discrepant desires task. Results Maternal prenatal reflective functioning was found to be negatively related to child aggressive behaviour. However maternal postnatal self-related RF was positively related to child aggression. In addition, maternal reflective functioning was found to be positively related to one precursor of ToM, but ToM did not mediate the relationship between maternal reflective functioning and child aggression. No effect of coaching on maternal reflective functioning and child aggression was found. Conclusion The present study provides evidence for the relationship between maternal reflective functioning and child aggression at a young age. This emphasizes the importance of well-developed maternal reflective functioning capacities for the behavioural development of children. This relationship could be mediated by child’s ToM, but this should be further researched. Coaching would be a suitable way to enhance maternal reflective functioning capacities, but the effects of coaching should be investigated after mothers received coaching for a longer period of time.Show less

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The role of maternal reflective functioning on child mentalizing and child aggression: the influence of coaching