High levels of the openness trait are associated with better parental reflective functioning in mothers with substance use disorders

Merete Glenne Øie,Ingebjørg Emilie Aarnes,Lise Horndalsveen Eilertsen,Kerstin Söderström,Eivind Ystrom,Ulrika Håkansson

doi:10.1016/j.abrep.2020.100318

Abstract

AimsMothers with substance use disorders (SUD) often show impairments in parental reflective functioning (PRF), which may have adverse effects on their capacity for sensitive caregiving. Parenting personality is also associated with caregiving. However, no studies have investigated how these individual factors may contribute to variance in PRF in mothers with SUD. In this study PRF and personality were assessed in 43 mothers with SUD. MethodsPRF was assessed by the Parent Development Interview. Personality traits were assessed by the Revised Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Personality Inventory. ResultsThe results indicate that higher levels of the Openness trait are associated with better PRF. ConclusionMothers low in Openness may need more specific and situational training in interpreting mental states in their children. Highly open mothers with SUD will likely need more help distinguishing the child’s mental states from their own, and might need help to maintain mutuality and regulating the intensity of their responses to the child’s behavior.

Highlights

As a group, mothers with substance use disorders (SUD) show diffi culties understanding the meaning of their infant’s emotions and behavior, and in responding appropriately and sensitively to the chil dren s cues (Suchman, DeCoste, McMahon, Rounsaville, & Mayes, 2011; De Falco et al, 2014)
As far as we know, no studies have investigated how personality and personality traits may affect the capacity for parental reflective functioning (PRF), and not in care givers with SUD which is the focus of the current study
The remaining 25 mothers (58.1%) were recruited from treatment facilities specialized in caring for pregnant women and families with small children, with a concurrent substance abuse problem

Summary

Introduction

Mothers with substance use disorders (SUD) show diffi culties understanding the meaning of their infant’s emotions and behavior, and in responding appropriately and sensitively to the chil dren s cues (Suchman, DeCoste, McMahon, Rounsaville, & Mayes, 2011; De Falco et al, 2014). Reflective functioning (RF) is the observed manifestation of the ability to understand the mental state of others behind their overt behavior (i.e. mentalization) (Fonagy, Steele, Moran, Steele, & Higgitt, 1991). This crucial capacity is considered fundamental in sensitive caregiving, and thought to play an important role in the intergenerational transmission of attachment (Slade, 2005). Mothers with a SUD are often reported to have impairments in parental reflective functioning (PRF; Slade, 2005), with individual variations (Håkansson et al, 2018a; Pajulo, Suchman, Kalland, & Mayes, 2006; Suchman, McMahon, Slade, & Luthar, 2005). As far as we know, no studies have investigated how personality and personality traits may affect the capacity for PRF, and not in care givers with SUD which is the focus of the current study

Methods

Results

Conclusion