Pathways to understanding mind: construct validity and predictive validity of maternal mind-mindedness.
The construct validity of maternal mind-mindedness (MM) was investigated in the context of its relations with children's later understanding of mind. MM measures were obtained from infant-mother (N = 52) interactions at 6 months, and from maternal interviews at 48 months. Children's understanding of mind was assessed using theory of mind (ToM) tasks at 45 and 48 months, and a stream of consciousness (SoC) task at 55 months. One of the early MM measures--mothers' appropriate mind-related comments--was a positive independent predictor of: (a) MM at 48 months, and (b) ToM and SoC performance at 45 to 55 months. Path analyses suggested direct links between mothers' use of appropriate mind-related comments and children's later understanding of mind.
Meins
Elizabeth
E
Psychology Division, School of Sciences, Staffordshire University, UK. elizabeth.meins@durham.ac.uk
Fernyhough
Charles
C
Wainwright
Rachel
R
Clark-Carter
David
D
Das Gupta
Mani
M
Fradley
Emma
E
Tuckey
Michelle
M
D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires