Maternal and child reflective functioning in the context of child sexual abuse: pathways to depression and externalising difficulties

European Journal of Psychotraumatology
Karin EnsinkPeter Fonagy

Abstract

Sexual abuse is a well-recognised risk factor for child psychopathology. Little is known regarding whether child and maternal mentalization can be considered a potential resource or protective factor in this context, respectively, mediating or moderating the relationship between sexual abuse and psychopathology. The aims of this study were (1) to explore the relationships between child and maternal mentalizing, measured as reflective functioning (RF), and child depressive symptoms and externalising difficulties; and (2) to examine whether child mentalizing mediates the relationship between child sexual abuse (CSA) and psychopathology. A total of 168 children aged 7-12 years and their mothers participated in the study. The sample included 74 dyads where children had experienced sexual abuse. The Child Attachment Interview was rated by using the Child Reflective Functioning Scale to assess children's mentalization, and the Child Depression Inventory was used to assess depressive symptoms. Mothers completed the Parent Development Interview to assess maternal RF and the Child Behavior Checklist to assess their child's externalising difficulties. A model involving direct and indirect paths from CSA, child and maternal RF to child ps...Continue Reading

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Citations

Feb 6, 2017·Journal of Personality Assessment·Karin EnsinkPeter Fonagy
Jan 8, 2018·Child Psychiatry and Human Development·K EnsinkL Normandin
Jul 12, 2018·Praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie·Anna GeorgSvenja Taubner
Apr 20, 2019·Autism Research : Official Journal of the International Society for Autism Research·Yael EnavAntonio Y Hardan
Feb 21, 2019·Journal of Personality Disorders·Carla SharpKarin Ensink
Jan 15, 2020·Development and Psychopathology·Stefanella Costa-CordellaPeter Fonagy
Feb 15, 2020·Infant Mental Health Journal·María José León, Marcia Olhaberry
Mar 1, 2019·Infancy : the Official Journal of the International Society on Infant Studies·Karin EnsinkPeter Fonagy
Mar 30, 2017·Frontiers in Psychology·Antonella Privizzini
Mar 20, 2019·Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review·Kristen YuleJohn Grych
Jul 24, 2018·Frontiers in Medicine·Jessica L BorelliPeter Fonagy
Oct 24, 2018·European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·Fabiola BizziDonatella Cavanna
Jan 27, 2021·PloS One·Saskia MalcorpsPatrick Luyten
Mar 10, 2021·Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology·Mark WadeJennifer M Jenkins
Mar 25, 2021·Infant Mental Health Journal·Krink Stephanie, Ramsauer Brigitte
Aug 14, 2021·Frontiers in Psychology·Karin EnsinkJessica L Borelli
Apr 16, 2020·Psychopathology·Yu Lien HuangUNKNOWN and London Personality and Mood Disorder Research Consortium

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