Mind-mindedness as a multidimensional construct: Appropriate and nonattuned mind-related comments independently predict infant–mother attachment in a socially diverse sample

Meins, E.; Fernyhough, C.; de Rosnay, M.; Arnott, B.; Leekam, S.R.; Turner, M.

Abstract

In a socially diverse sample of 206 infant–mother pairs, we investigated predictors of infants’ attachment security at 15 months, with a particular emphasis on mothers’ tendency to comment appropriately or in a non-attuned manner on their 8-month-olds’ internal states (so-called mind-mindedness). Multinomial logistic regression analyses showed that higher scores for appropriate mind-related comments and lower scores for non-attuned mind-related comments distinguished secure-group mothers from their counterparts in the insecure-avoidant, insecure-resistant, and insecure-disorganized groups. Higher scores for appropriate mind-related comments and lower scores for non-attuned mind-related comments also independently predicted dichotomous organized/disorganized attachment. General maternal sensitivity predicted neither attachment security nor organization, although sensitivity was found to relate to dichotomous secure/insecure attachment specifically in the context of low socioeconomic status. The findings highlight how appropriate and non-attuned mind-related comments make independent contributions to attachment and suggest that mind-mindedness is best characterized as a multidimensional construct.

Citation

Meins, E., Fernyhough, C., de Rosnay, M., Arnott, B., Leekam, S., & Turner, M. (2012). Mind-mindedness as a multidimensional construct: Appropriate and nonattuned mind-related comments independently predict infant–mother attachment in a socially diverse sample. Infancy, 17(4), 393-415. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-7078.2011.00087.x

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jul 1, 2012
• Deposit Date: Feb 28, 2012
• Journal: Infancy
• Print ISSN: 1525-0008
• Electronic ISSN: 1532-7078
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 393-415
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-7078.2011.00087.x
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1503468