title: Maternal Sensitivity in Mothers with Mild Intellectual Disabilities is Related to Experiences of Maltreatment and Predictive of Child Attachment: A Matched-Comparison Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Scientific knowledge on the quality of caregiving/maternal sensitivity among mothers with mild intellectual disabilities (ID) is limited and subject to many methodological shortcomings, but seems to suggest that these mothers are less sensitive than mothers without intellectual disabilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this matched-comparison study (N = 48), the present authors observed maternal sensitivity for 20 min in four different laboratory play situations. The study also included semi-structured interviews to assess maternal experiences of maltreatment and child attachment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The present authors found significantly lower sensitivity among mothers with intellectual disabilities than among a comparison group of mothers without intellectual disabilities. Among mothers with intellectual disabilities, low sensitivity was related to maternal experiences of maltreatment and predictive of disorganized child attachment. In the comparison group, high maternal sensitivity was related to partner presence and social support, and predictive of child intelligence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present authors highlight the importance of attending to intellectual disabilities mothers' history of receiving care to understand their capacity for giving adequate care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lindberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fransson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Tommie
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Forslund
authors.affiliation: SUF Resource Center, Uppsala County Council, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Springer
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Pehr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Granqvist
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology*; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D009769:Object Attachment; D012944:Social Support
keywords: attachment; intellectual disabilities; intelligence; maltreatment; maternal sensitivity