Savoring interventions for mothers of young children

Mechanisms linking relational savoring and personal savoring to reflective functioning

Bibliographic Data

ID11276508
AuthorsJessica L Borelli (0000-0001-8471-6732, Department of Psychological Science University of California Irvine California USA, corresponding author), Kelly F M Kazmierski (0000-0001-7914-7184, Department of Psychological Science University of California Irvine California USA), Gerin E Gaskin (0000-0001-9511-6214, Department of Psychological Science University of California Irvine California USA), Margaret L Kerr (0000-0002-1398-4083, Department of Human Development and Family Studies University of Wisconsin Madison Wisconsin USA), Patricia A Smiley (0000-0001-7460-6070, Department of Psychology Pomona College Claremont California USA), Hannah F Rasmussen (0000-0001-6781-674X, Department of Psychology University of Southern California Los Angeles California USA)
Year2023
Volume44
Issue2
Pages200-217
Publication date2023-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInfant Mental Health Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0163-9641 • E-ISSN: 1097-0355
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/imhj.22038
PMID36811971
OpenAlexW4321501322
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited64

Parenting interventions can improve parenting outcomes, with widespread implications for children's developmental trajectories. Relational savoring (RS) is a brief attachment‐based intervention with high potential for dissemination. Here we examine data from a recent intervention trial in order to isolate the mechanisms by which savoring predicts reflective functioning (RF) at treatment follow‐up through an examination of the content of savoring sessions (specificity, positivity, connectedness, safe haven/secure base, self‐focus, child‐focus). Mothers ( N = 147, M age = 30.84 years, SD age = 5.13; Race: 67.3% White/Caucasian, 12.9% other or declined to state; 10.9% biracial/multiracial, 5.4% Asian, 1.4% Native American/Alaska Native, 2.0% Black/African American; Ethnicity: 41.5% Latina) of toddlers ( M age = 20.96 months, SD age = 2.50; 53.5% female) were randomized to four sessions of RS or personal savoring (PS). Both RS and PS predicted higher RF, but through different means. RS was indirectly associated with higher RF through greater connectedness and specificity of savoring content, while PS was indirectly associated with higher RF through greater self‐focus in savoring content. We discuss the implications of these findings for treatment development and for our understanding of the emotional experience of mothers of toddlers

Developmental psychology · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Family and Disability Support Research · Psychology

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