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The predictors of change in reflective parenting therapy: Uncovering the influence of parental reflective functioning and child temperament in predicting the improvement in parent–child relationship and child outcome following DUET group intervention

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 December 2022

Atara Menashe-Grinberg Open the ORCID record for Atara Menashe-Grinberg [Opens in a new window]  and
Naama Atzaba-Poria
Atara Menashe-Grinberg*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
Naama Atzaba-Poria
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
*
Corresponding author: Atara Menashe-Grinberg, email: ataram@post.bgu.ac.il
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Abstract

Parental reflective functioning (PRF) is the ability of parents to understand their child’s behavior in light of underlying mental processes; it is a core element in the parent–child relationship. RF is also considered crucial for self-regulation for both parents and their children. We investigated the relationship between improvement in PRF after DUET group intervention (a RF-based intervention) and improvement in the parent–child interaction, child RF, and child adjustment, and we examined whether these improvements were distinct for children with different temperamental traits (e.g., effortful control). Eighty-four parents completed the DUET program and were assessed before and after the intervention. PRF was measured using observation (mind-mindedness) and a questionnaire. Statistical analysis included hierarchical regression and moderation of regression analysis. Results showed that improvement in the parent–child interaction, child RF, and child behavioral problems were related to improvement in PRF. Furthermore, we found that child temperament acted as a moderator in the link between PRF and child RF, supporting a vantage sensitivity model, meaning that it was the more sensitive children who benefitted the most as a result of the positive change in their parents’ RF. Clinical and future directions of this study are discussed.

Keywords

behavioral problemsmentalizationparent–child interactionparentingreflective functioning
Type
Regular Article
Information
Development and Psychopathology , Volume 35 , Issue 4 , October 2023 , pp. 1901 - 1912
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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