Verbal and Non-Verbal Parental Mentalizing Profiles: Distinct Profiles, Different Effects on Infant Attachment

• In Event: Shaping the Parent-Infant Relationship: Unique and Complementary Roles Played by Verbal and Non-Verbal Parental Mentalizing

Abstract

Recently, some researchers have been interested in the relative contributions and complementarity of verbal (i.e., mind-mindedness) and non-verbal (i.e., parental embodied mentalizing, PEM) parental mentalizing. In sum, these studies highlight the unique role played by verbal and non-verbal dimensions, particularly in relation to infant attachment security. However, knowledge about how these two dimensions is captured and integrated by the parent remains to be clarified. Using a person-centered approach, this study first aimed to identify verbal and non-verbal mentalizing profiles and describe them according to different parental characteristics, such as mother’s age, infant sex, socio-economic status (SES), and PEM interaction themes (i.e., holding, investigation, manipulation, stimulation, transition, exploration). Secondly, this study aimed to examine the associations between these parental mentalizing profiles and infant attachment (security and disorganization). Based on longitudinal studies from three different countries (Canada, England, and Israel), the sample of this study included 412 mothers-infant dyads. Mind-mindedness (verbal dimension) and PEM (non-verbal dimension) were assessed based on observations made during a 15-minutes mother-infant interactions free play interactions when the infants were 6 to 8 months old according to two distinct observational procedures (Meins & Fernyhough, 2015 and Shai, 2017 respectively). Infant attachment security and disorganized were measured using The Strange Situation Procedure at 16 months. Through latent profile analyses, four verbal and non-verbal parental mentalizing profiles were identified (Low, High, Good Enough, and Non-Attuned). Multinominal logistic regression showed that infant sex, SES (low/high) and some PEM interaction themes helped predict membership in the profiles. When the Low parental mentalizing profile is compared to High, Good Enough, and Non-Attuned, distinct associations were found according to the infant attachment security. Compared to the High or Good Enough parental mentalizing profiles, infants are more likely to present disorganized attachment when their parent is in the Low profile. This study is the first to empirically support the existence of distinct verbal and non-verbal parental mentalizing profiles and their associations regarding infant attachment. Our results thus highlight the importance of considering both dimensions of parental mentalizing within the parent-infant interaction.

Authors

• Karine Gagne, University of Montreal
  Presenting Author

• Elizabeth Meins

• George M Tarabulsy, University Laval

• Jean-Pascal Lemelin, Université de Sherbrooke

• Annie Bernier, University of Montreal

• Neta Rein

• Pier-Olivier Caron

• Dana Shai, IDC Herzliya, Israel