title: Structure of reflective functioning and adult attachment scales: overlap and distinctions.
abstract: This investigation examined the structure of reflective functioning (RF) - an understanding of the links between mental states and behaviors - and adult attachment scales. Both RF and traditional adult attachment scales were coded based on 194 prebirth Adult Attachment Interviews (AAI). Correlational and factor analyses indicated considerable overlap between RF and traditional AAI coding. Exploratory factor analyses of RF and AAI state-of-mind scales indicated that RF loaded, along with coherence of mind, on the primary factor distinguishing between individuals categorized as secure and dismissing. These findings indicate substantial overlap between RF and AAI scales; however, the magnitude of the correlations between these scales indicates that they are not redundant.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , University of St. Thomas , St. Paul , MN , USA.
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jessee
authors.affiliation: b Office of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs , University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison , WI , USA.
authors.forename: Sarah C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Mangelsdorf
authors.affiliation: c Department of Psychology , Stevenson University , Stevenson , MD , USA.
authors.forename: Maria S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: d Department of Human Development & Family Science , The Ohio State University , Columbus , OH , USA.
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Schoppe-Sullivan
authors.affiliation: e College of Family & Consumer Sciences , University of Georgia , Athens , GA , USA.
authors.forename: Geoffrey L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D056345:Theory of Mind; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Reflective functioning; adult attachment; factor analysis; mentalization