Parent Relationship Satisfaction and Reflective Functioning as Predictors of Emotional Availability and Infant Behavior

Marjukka Pajulo,Johanna Sourander,Mirjam Kalland,Saara J Salo,Lazlo Vinzce,Simo Raittila

doi:10.1007/s10826-021-01934-2

Marjukka Pajulo, Johanna Sourander + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-021-01934-2

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Abstract

Marital and parenting systems are likely to interact during the first year of an infant’s life. This study examines the longitudinal interrelations of relationship satisfaction and parental reflective functioning (PRF) and their predictive relations with later emotional availability (EA) and infant social-emotional behaviors (SEB) including skills as well as behavioral problems among first-time Finnish mothers and fathers (n = 556). The follow-up period was between three and 12 months. In addition to having direct effects, we examined a mediational model in which self-reports on PRF factors of interest and curiosity and appropriateness of reasoning would mediate the effects of previous relationship satisfaction to the parent and dyadic side of EA and infant SEB at 12 months. The results show significant stability for relationship satisfaction and PRF for both mothers and fathers as well as direct effects on EA and SEB. However, we found differences between mothers and fathers. For mothers, path analysis indicated support for a mediational model where earlier relationship satisfaction predicted later EA and infant problem behaviors also through the current level of PRF. For fathers, both relationship satisfaction and PRF had direct, but not mediated, effects, and on both infant problem behaviors as well as infant social competence. Together, despite these differences, focusing clinically on both relationship satisfaction and PRF may prove significant in preventing later relational and/or infant difficulties in SEB for both mothers and fathers.

Highlights

Background and study variablesEducational level (High/Low)a Marital status (Married/Cohabiting) Pregnancy planned for Mothers Fathers t(427) p t(125) p t(427) p t(125) p t(407) p t(119) pRelationship satisfaction at 3 monthsRelationship satisfaction at 12 monthsParental reflective functioningInterest and curiosity at 3 monthsInterest and curiosity at 12 monthsEmotional availability 12 months Parent emotional availability (EA) Dyadic EAInfant social-emotional behaviors (SEB) 12 months Problem behavior Social competence aEducational Level High = Polytechnic and academic degree, Educational Level Low = Compulsory school and professional/high schoolFor fathers, none of the variables predicted EA
The main aim was to show how relationship satisfaction and parental reflective functioning (PRF) predict parent-child EA and infant SEB from three to twelve months measured among first-time Finnish parents
The main results support the hypothesis that both relationship satisfaction and PRF were highly stable, interrelated with each other and they both showed direct effects on parent-child EA and infant SEB for both mothers and fathers

Summary

Introduction

Lower level of problem behaviors were significantly predicted only by high PRF at 12 months, while higher infant social competence was significantly predicted only by higher relationship satisfaction at 12 months. Relationship satisfaction and PRF at three months had no significant direct effects on the dependent variables. The indirect effect of high PRF at three months on lower level of reported infant problem behaviors was significant trough high PRF at 12 months, β = −0.17, 95% CI [−0.26, −0.08] but not trough relationship satisfaction at 12 months, β = −0.01, 95% CI [−0.04, 0.00]. The indirect effect of lower relationship satisfaction at three months on higher infant problem behaviors was significant trough lower PRF at 12 months, β = 0.02, 95% CI [0.01, 0.05] but not trough relationship satisfaction at 12 months, β = 0.10, 95% CI [−0.01, 0.23]. No indirect effects were significant in predicting social competence

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