Attachment Representations and Maternal Sensitivity in Low Socioeconomic Status Mothers

Abstract

According to attachment theory, mental representations are defined as dynamic cognitive guides that organize both perceptual and behavioral aspects of the self, attachment figure, and relationships with others. Based on this assumption, several studies had reported a relationship between attachment representations and the quality of care provided by mothers to their infants. This study explored on the relationship between maternal attachment representations, assessed by a narrative script task, and the quality of maternal care observed at home. Participants were 32 mothers between 19 and 44 years of age (M = 29.6, SD = 6.28) and their children between 8 and 10 months (M = 8.91, SD = 0.96). The results did not show a significant relationship between global scores of participants' observed care (i.e., maternal sensitivity) and their attachment representations. However, a specific association was found between two dimensions of sensitivity (acceptance and active/animated interactions) and the narrative script that refers to a child's physical injury event. Additionally, mothers who reported early separation experiences with their children showed a significant association between sensitivity and attachment representations on mother-child scripts. Moreover, these mothers showed lower scores on global sensitivity and on specific behavioral care dimensions, such as sensitive response and acceptance to child's signals, than those of mothers that did not report separations early in their children' lives.

Increasing secure base script knowledge among parents with Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up

“…In addition, adults’ knowledge of the secure base script has its origins, at least in part, in childhood experiences with parents (Nivison et al, 2020; Schoenmaker et al, 2015; Steele et al, 2014; Waters, Ruiz, & Roisman, 2017) and appears to guide adults’ behavior when interacting with their own children. Specifically, parents’ secure base script knowledge is associated with the degree to which they interact with their young children in a sensitive manner (Bárrig-Jó et al, 2016; Coppola et al, 2006; Hawkins et al, 2015; Huth-Bocks, Muzik, Beeghly, Earls, & Stacks, 2014; Trumbell, Hibel, Mercado, & Posada, 2018; Waters, Raby, Ruiz, Martin, & Roisman, 2018). Consistent with these findings, parents’ knowledge of the secure base script is also positively associated with the likelihood that their children develop secure attachment representations, as assessed through observations of children's attachment behaviors or narrative-based assessments (Bost et al, 2006; Monteiro, Veríssimo, Vaughn, Santos, & Bost, 2008; Vaughn et al, 2007; Veríssimo & Salvaterra, 2006; Waters, Bosman, Vandevivere, Dujardin, & Waters, 2015; Waters et al, 2018; Wong et al, 2011).…”

Estado mental de apego no resuelto, cuidado materno y seguridad del apego en dos diadas madre-hijo/a

“…El presente estudio forma parte de una investigación multicéntrica diseñada por Altmann, Equipo ATI y Carbonell con el objetivo de explorar el aporte de la sensibilidad materna, las estrategias regulatorias de la madre y sus representaciones de apego sobre la seguridad del apego del niño durante el primer año de vida (Bárrig-Jó et al, 2016;Nóblega et al, 2016). De forma específica, en el presente artículo se plantea el estudio de dos casos, los cuales fueron seleccionados por presentar características comunes relevantes para el propósito de la investigación.…”

Maternal and family predictors of infant psychological development in at‐risk families: A multilevel longitudinal study

“…Familial socioeconomic disadvantages are often associated with a less stimulating developmental environment, in which educational, social, and health opportunities are reduced. Mothers with low SES have been found to show lower levels of sensitive responsiveness toward their children as well as more maladaptive parenting behaviors (Bárrig‐Jó et al, ; de Falco et al, ; McLoyd & Wilson, ; Tamis‐LeMonda & Bornstein, ). Therefore, infants of families with low SES are more at risk of manifesting mental and emotional problems during childhood (Najman et al, ).…”