On the relation between maternal state of mind and sensitivity in the prediction of infant attachment security.
Attachment theorists assume that maternal mental representations influence responsivity, which influences infant attachment security. However, primary studies do not support this mediation model. The authors tested mediation using 2 mother-infant samples and found no evidence of mediation. Therefore, the authors explored sensitivity as a moderator, studying the (a) interaction of mental representation and sensitivity as it predicts infant attachment security and (b) level of sensitivity in mothers whose infants' attachment security is either concordant or discordant with their own. The interactional analyses were not significant. But the match-mismatch data showed that when mother-infant attachment strategies were discordant, maternal sensitivity was more consistent with infant than maternal attachment strategy. These findings are congruent with an interpretation of sensitivity as a moderator that can block transmission of attachment strategy.
Atkinson
Leslie
L
0000-0003-1265-3298
Child, Youth, and Family Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
Goldberg
Susan
S
Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto.
Raval
Vaishali
V
Graduate Program in Psychology, University of Windsor.
Pederson
David
D
Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario.
Benoit
Diane
D
Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto.
Moran
Greg
G
Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario.
Poulton
Lori
L
Child, Youth, and Family Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
Myhal
Natalie
N
Psychiatry Research and Integrative Biology, The Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children.
Zwiers
Michael
M
Psychiatry Research and Integrative Biology, The Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children.
Gleason
Karin
K
Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario.
Leung
Eman
E
Child, Youth, and Family Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations