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

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          Abstract

          Background

          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.

          Objective

          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.

          Method

          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 psychopathology was examined using Mplus software.

          Results

          Child mentalization partially mediated the relationships between CSA and depressive symptoms, as well as the relationship between CSA and externalising difficulties. Maternal mentalization was an independent predictor of child externalising difficulties, with higher maternal RF associated with less externalising difficulties.

          Discussion

          The findings indicate that by ages 7–12, child mentalization is an important inner resource associated with lower depression and externalising. In addition, this study provides new evidence of the importance of the parent's mentalizing stance for the development of self-regulation and externalising difficulties in both abused and non-abused children. The clinical implications are discussed.

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          Most cited references75

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            An Inventory for Measuring Depression

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              Alternative Ways of Assessing Model Fit

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                Author and article information

                Journal
                Eur J Psychotraumatol
                Eur J Psychotraumatol
                EJPT
                European Journal of Psychotraumatology
                Co-Action Publishing
                2000-8066
                27 January 2016
                2016
                : 7
                : 10.3402/ejpt.v7.30611
                Affiliations
                [1 ]École de psychologie, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
                [2 ]Psychoanalysis Unit, Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK
                Author notes
                [* ]Correspondence to: Karin Ensink, École de psychologie, Université Laval, Pavillon Félix-Antoine-Savard, FAS-1426, Québec City, QC, Canada, Email: Karin.Ensink@ 123456psy.ulaval.ca

                Responsible Editor: Julian D. Ford, University of Connecticut Health Center, USA.

                Article
                30611
                10.3402/ejpt.v7.30611
                4731426
                26822865
                dc1387b2-fc53-45cb-9d18-4b7f8abdff0e
                © 2016 Karin Ensink et al.

                This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, allowing third parties to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format, and to remix, transform, and build upon the material, for any purpose, even commercially, under the condition that appropriate credit is given, that a link to the license is provided, and that you indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.

                History
                : 02 December 2015
                : 02 January 2016
                : 03 December 2016
                Categories
                Basic Research Article

                Clinical Psychology & Psychiatry
                child depression,child mentalization,child sexual abuse,externalising difficulties,maternal mentalization,reflective functioning

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