Maternal Mind-Mindedness and Children's Behavioral Difficulties: Mitigating the Impact of Low Socioeconomic Status

Elizabeth Meins; Luna C Muñoz Centifanti; Charles Fernyhough; Sarah Fishburn

doi:10.1007/s10802-012-9699-3

Maternal Mind-Mindedness and Children's Behavioral Difficulties: Mitigating the Impact of Low Socioeconomic Status

Elizabeth Meins, Luna C Muñoz Centifanti, Charles Fernyhough, Sarah Fishburn

Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Relations between mothers' tendency to comment appropriately on their 8-month-olds' internal states (mind-mindedness) and children's behavioral difficulties (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) at ages 44 and 61 months were investigated in a socially diverse sample (N = 171, 88 boys). Controlling for maternal depressive symptoms, perceived social support, sensitivity, child language ability, and child gender, maternal mind-mindedness was negatively related to children's externalizing and internalizing behaviors specifically in low socioeconomic status (SES) families. Furthermore, behavioral difficulties at age 44 months mediated the relation between maternal mind-mindedness and behavioral difficulties at age 61 months, but only for low SES families. These findings are discussed with reference to possible ways in which mind-mindedness could inform interventions targeted at at-risk groups.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	543-553
Number of pages	11
Journal	Journal of abnormal child psychology
Volume	41
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-012-9699-3
Publication status	Published - May 2013

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10.1007/s10802-012-9699-3

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10802-012-9699-3

Cite this

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title = "Maternal Mind-Mindedness and Children's Behavioral Difficulties: Mitigating the Impact of Low Socioeconomic Status",

abstract = "Relations between mothers' tendency to comment appropriately on their 8-month-olds' internal states (mind-mindedness) and children's behavioral difficulties (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) at ages 44 and 61 months were investigated in a socially diverse sample (N = 171, 88 boys). Controlling for maternal depressive symptoms, perceived social support, sensitivity, child language ability, and child gender, maternal mind-mindedness was negatively related to children's externalizing and internalizing behaviors specifically in low socioeconomic status (SES) families. Furthermore, behavioral difficulties at age 44 months mediated the relation between maternal mind-mindedness and behavioral difficulties at age 61 months, but only for low SES families. These findings are discussed with reference to possible ways in which mind-mindedness could inform interventions targeted at at-risk groups.",

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AU - Fishburn, Sarah

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