I'm with you, baby

Using parental embodied mentalizing in a pilot study to capture change following the circle of security parenting intervention

Bibliographic Data

ID21391782
AuthorsDonna Shai (0000-0003-2218-4966, SEED Center Academic College Tel Aviv‐Yaffo Tel Aviv Israel, corresponding author), Neil W Boris (Institute for Science and International Security), Neil Boris (Circle of Security International Spokane Washington USA), Ida Brandtzæg (Circle of Security International Oslo Norway), Stig Torsteinson (Circle of Security International Oslo Norway), Rose Spencer (Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families London UK), Karin Haugaard (Psychologist, Private Practice Aalborg Denmark), Johanne Smith‐nielsen (0000-0003-3571-6335, Center for Early Intervention and Family Studies, Department of Psychology University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark)
Year2024
Volume65
Issue2
Pages321-330
Publication date2024-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueScandinavian Journal of Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0036-5564 • E-ISSN: 1467-9450
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/sjop.12978
PMID37901937
OpenAlexW4388014474
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited36

Supported by a large body of work demonstrating the impact of infant attachment representations on subsequent development, numerous therapeutic programs have been developed to promote secure attachment, with increasing focus on parental mentalizing. Nonetheless, empirical evidence supporting their effectiveness has yet to be fully established. The current pilot study ( N = 24) was designed to evaluate whether and to what extent parents' shifts in parental mentalizing following a brief attachment‐based group intervention, namely circle of security parenting (COSP; Cooper, Hoffman & Powell, 2009) can be captured using the parental embodied mentalizing instrument (PEM; Shai & Belsky, 2017). Compared to a waiting list–control group, this small‐scale study examined whether community‐based low‐risk mothers of infants aged 5–48 months show an increase in their observed PEM capacities following the intervention. Secondary self‐reported outcome variables parental stress, feeling of competence, and self‐compassion. Findings show that PEM ratings improved significantly over time in the COSP group, but not in the control group. Intervention group mother–infant dyads also presented significantly longer embodied interactions communication post intervention compared to the control group. No effects of the COSP on parental stress, competence, or self‐compassion were found. Despite the small sample size, these results tentatively suggest that COSP can improve embodied mentalizing abilities

Developmental psychology · Embodied cognition · Intervention (counseling) · Mentalization · Psychiatry · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior · Psychology

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access