Exploring the Construct Validity of Adult Reflective Functioning in a High-Risk, Prospective, Longitudinal Sample

• In Event: Poster Session 11
  In Poster Session: PS 11 Topic - Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Abstract

According to attachment theory, individuals form mental models, or representations, of early caregiving experiences that guide their subsequent relationship experiences. These mental representations are thought to be accessible in adulthood by coding autobiographical interviews like the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI; George, Kaplan, & Main, 1985). Traditional AAI analysis uses the Main and Goldwyn (1985) coding system, which measures adult attachment representations through subscales about the individual’s attachment state of mind. A primary subscale is “coherence of mind” (i.e., consistency, clarity, relevance, and succinctness of the narrative). Another operationalization is secure base script knowledge (SBSK), which measures the extent to which narratives follow a particular cognitive script of events related to attachment experiences. Both coherence of mind and SBSK are differentially associated with early attachment experiences and adult relationship functioning in longitudinal datasets (Waters et al., 2017; 2018), solidifying their roles as valid and unique operationalizations of attachment representations.

Reflective functioning (RF)—an individual’s ability to understand interactions between mental states and behaviors in the self and others—emerged as yet another measure of adult attachment representation (Fonagy, Steele, & Steele, 1991). Research indicates that an adult’s RF as a parent is associated with their child’s attachment security and social development, in line with attachment theory (Camoirano, 2017). However, many questions remain about RF as a measure of adult attachment representation. First, although it is theorized that one’s early attachment experiences contribute to adult RF, this has not been confirmed empirically. Second, it is unclear whether RF provides unique information compared to coherence of mind and SBSK.

The present study aimed to examine antecedents and added value of adult RF within the attachment framework. It was hypothesized that: (Aim 1) infant attachment security and maternal sensitivity would each significantly predict adult RF; and (Aim 2) that RF, coherence of mind, and SBSK would load onto a single factor. Participants were 164 individuals (51% female; 68% White) from the age 26-year assessment of the Minnesota Longitudinal Study of Risk and Adaptation, a prospective, longitudinal study of adults born into poverty. Infant attachment security was assessed at 12 and 18 months by the Strange Situation Procedure (SSP; Ainsworth et al., 1978). Maternal sensitivity was operationalized by a composite score of sensitive caregiving assessed seven times from age 3 months to 13 years. RF, coherence of mind, and SBSK were all independently coded from the AAI.

Regression analyses indicated that neither infant attachment security nor maternal sensitivity significantly predicted adult RF (Table 1), in contrast with coherence of mind and SBSK in this sample (Waters, Ruiz, & Roisman, 2017). Unexpectedly, exploratory factor analyses indicated that RF was more closely associated with markers of preoccupied and unresolved states of mind than markers of security (Table 2). Overall, findings suggest that RF does not perform as it is theoretically expected to in relation to antecedents or other measures of adult attachment representations. This study highlights the ongoing need to empirically test theoretical hypotheses and constructs related to attachment theory using diverse, prospective, longitudinal datasets.

Group Authors

N/A

Authors

• Rachel Foster, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
  Presenting Author

• Monique Nakamura, University of Minnesota
  Non-Presenting Author

• Glenn I. Roisman, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
  Non-Presenting Author