TY - JOUR

T1 - I'm with you, baby

T2 - Using parental embodied mentalizing in a pilot study to capture change following the circle of security parenting intervention

AU - Shai, Dana

AU - Boris, Neil

AU - Brandzæg, Ida

AU - Torsteinson, Stig

AU - Spencer, Rose

AU - Haugaard, Karin

AU - Smith-Nielsen, Johanne

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

U2 - 10.1111/sjop.12978

DO - 10.1111/sjop.12978

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 37901937

SP - 1024

EP - 1037

JO - Scandinavian Journal of Psychology

JF - Scandinavian Journal of Psychology

SN - 0036-5564

ER -