Mediating and moderating processes underlying the association between maternal cognition and infant attachment

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Hawkins, E
Madigan, S
Moran, G
Pederson, DR
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2015
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Abstract

The goal of this longitudinal study was to elucidate aspects of maternal cognition associated with maternal sensitivity and the development of infant attachment. Seventy-seven mothers were administered a number of measures over the course of the infant's first year, including the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI), secure base scripts, and a measure of maternal insight about her infant's behavior. Maternal sensitivity was assessed using the maternal sensitivity Q-Sort and infant attachment using the Strange Situation Procedure. Associations were found between AAI coherence, secure base scripts, and maternal sensitivity; however, no direct association was found between maternal insight and sensitivity. A mediator-moderator model suggested that: 1) AAI coherence mediated the association between secure base scripts and maternal insight; and 2) maternal insight and sensitivity interacted to predict secure attachment. Findings suggest the need to further investigate the role of cognitive factors implicated in the intergenerational transmission of attachment.

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Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology

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39

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Child and adolescent development

Applied and developmental psychology

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Hawkins, E; Madigan, S; Moran, G; Pederson, DR, Mediating and moderating processes underlying the association between maternal cognition and infant attachment, Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 2015, 39, pp. 24-33

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