Reflective functioning in mothers with drug use disorders: Implications for dyadic interactions with infants and toddlers

Abstract

In this study, we examined maternal reflective functioning as a bi-dimensional construct in a sample of 47 mothers with drug use disorders caring for infants and toddlers. We first tested a two-factor solution with scale items from the Parent Development Interview and confirmed the presence of two related but distinct dimensions: self-mentalization and child-mentalization. We then tested predictions that (a) self-mentalization would be associated with overall quality of maternal caregiving and that (b) child-mentalization would be associated with (i) maternal contingent behavior and (ii) child communication. Results partially supported hypotheses (a) and (bii). Unexpectedly, self-mentalization alone was associated with maternal contingent behavior. Findings suggest that self-mentalization may be a critical first step in improving mother-child relations involving mothers with drug use disorders. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Keywords:

• mother–child relations
• parent–child relations
• parenting
• substance abuse

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Arietta Slade and Linda Mayes for their thoughtful contributions to this work. We would also like to express our gratitude to Carolyn Parler-Mcrae, Cheryl Doebrick, and Lynne Madden of the APT Foundation for their ongoing enthusiastic support of this project. This project was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse Grants K02 DA023504 and R01 DA017294.