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Rethinking maternal sensitivity: mothers' comments on infants' mental processes predict security of attachment at 12 months.
J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2001 Jul; 42(5):637-48.JC

Abstract

This study investigated predictors of attachment security in a play context using a sample of 71 mothers and their 6-month-old infants. We sought to rethink the concept of maternal sensitivity by focusing on mothers' ability accurately to read the mental states governing infant behaviour. Five categories were devised to assess this ability, four of which were dependent on maternal responses to infant behaviours, such as object-directed activity. The fifth, mothers' Appropriate minded-related comments, assessed individual differences in mothers' proclivity to comment appropriately on their infants' mental states and processes. Higher scores in this fifth category related to a secure attachment relationship at 12 months. Maternal sensitivity and Appropriate mind-related comments were independent predictors of attachment security at 12 months, respectively accounting for 6.5% and 12.7% of its variance. We suggest that these findings are in line with current theorising on internal working models of attachment, and may help to explain security-related differences in mentalising abilities.

Authors+Show Affiliations

Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, UK. elizabeth.meins@durham.ac.ukNo affiliation info availableNo affiliation info availableNo affiliation info available

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

11464968

Citation

Meins, E, et al. "Rethinking Maternal Sensitivity: Mothers' Comments On Infants' Mental Processes Predict Security of Attachment at 12 Months." Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines, vol. 42, no. 5, 2001, pp. 637-48.
Meins E, Fernyhough C, Fradley E, et al. Rethinking maternal sensitivity: mothers' comments on infants' mental processes predict security of attachment at 12 months. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2001;42(5):637-48.
Meins, E., Fernyhough, C., Fradley, E., & Tuckey, M. (2001). Rethinking maternal sensitivity: mothers' comments on infants' mental processes predict security of attachment at 12 months. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines, 42(5), 637-48.
Meins E, et al. Rethinking Maternal Sensitivity: Mothers' Comments On Infants' Mental Processes Predict Security of Attachment at 12 Months. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2001;42(5):637-48. PubMed PMID: 11464968.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Rethinking maternal sensitivity: mothers' comments on infants' mental processes predict security of attachment at 12 months. AU - Meins,E, AU - Fernyhough,C, AU - Fradley,E, AU - Tuckey,M, PY - 2001/7/24/pubmed PY - 2002/1/5/medline PY - 2001/7/24/entrez SP - 637 EP - 48 JF - Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines JO - J Child Psychol Psychiatry VL - 42 IS - 5 N2 - This study investigated predictors of attachment security in a play context using a sample of 71 mothers and their 6-month-old infants. We sought to rethink the concept of maternal sensitivity by focusing on mothers' ability accurately to read the mental states governing infant behaviour. Five categories were devised to assess this ability, four of which were dependent on maternal responses to infant behaviours, such as object-directed activity. The fifth, mothers' Appropriate minded-related comments, assessed individual differences in mothers' proclivity to comment appropriately on their infants' mental states and processes. Higher scores in this fifth category related to a secure attachment relationship at 12 months. Maternal sensitivity and Appropriate mind-related comments were independent predictors of attachment security at 12 months, respectively accounting for 6.5% and 12.7% of its variance. We suggest that these findings are in line with current theorising on internal working models of attachment, and may help to explain security-related differences in mentalising abilities. SN - 0021-9630 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/11464968/Rethinking_maternal_sensitivity:_mothers'_comments_on_infants'_mental_processes_predict_security_of_attachment_at_12_months_ L2 - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/resolve/openurl?genre=article&sid=nlm:pubmed&issn=0021-9630&date=2001&volume=42&issue=5&spage=637 DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -