The transmission of mother-child boundary disturbances across three generations

Abstract

AbstractAttachment theory and family systems perspectives were used to explore the intergenerational origins of an overinvolved, symbiotic parenting pattern that hampers children's emerging autonomy. Consistent with principles of developmental psychopathology, the same underlying relationship disturbance was expected to manifest differently at different times in the developmental process. Specifically, links among maternal intrusiveness during infancy, overprotection during childhood, and mother-child role-reversal during young adulthood were explored. Forty-nine maternal grandmothers, mothers, and firstborn infants were visited in the mothers' homes when the infants were 6 and 9 months old. Grandmothers' memories of overprotection were related to observational ratings of high boundary dissolution and low positive affectivity with the mothers. No significant relationships were found between mothers' past and current relationships with the grandmothers. Yet, mothers' memories of overprotection during childhood or their current participation in unaffectionate, enmeshed, and role-reversed relationships with their mothers forecast their intrusive care with their own infants. Moreover, mothers' memories of overprotection related to their beliefs that others cannot be trusted and these beliefs were related, in turn, to observations of their intrusive care at 9 months. The implications of understanding the origins of maternal intrusiveness for developing prevention programs are discussed.