Research article summary (published 28 Feb 2008):

Independent influences upon mother-toddler role reversal: infant-mother attachment disorganization and role reversal in mother's childhood.

Full Abstract

In role reversal a child takes an inappropriate parental, spousal, or peer role with the caregiver. The study assessed attachment disorganization with mother in infancy in the Strange Situation (Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978) and role reversal at 2 years old in videotaped mother-child interactions. By closely observing role reversal at this early age, results fill in the picture concerning the link between disorganized infant-mother attachment and controlling role reversal at 6 years old (Main & Cassidy, 1988; Main, Kaplan, & Cassidy, 1985). As hypothesized, infant-mother disorganization significantly predicted mother-toddler role reversal. The study also deepened research that predicted role reversal from parent Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) role reversal assessed before the child was born (Macfie, McElwain, Houts, & Cox, 2005). As hypothesized, mother AAI role reversal with her mother in childhood significantly predicted mother-toddler role reversal over and above infant-mother disorganization. Results are discussed within a developmental psychopathology framework including opportunities for developmentally sensitive interventions.

Author information

Author/s: Macfie, Jenny (J); Fitzpatrick, Katie L (KL); Rivas, Elaine M (EM); Cox, Martha J (MJ);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, USA. macfie(-atsign-)utk.edu

Grants: HD07376 (Agency:NICHD NIH HHS) ; R01MN44763 (Agency:OMH CDC HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Attachment & human development (Attach Hum Dev), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Mar; vol 10 (issue 1) : pp 29-39

Dates: Created 2008/03/20; Completed 2008/09/09;

PMID: 18351492, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MeSH Headings (categories) shown below.

Adolescent Adult Anomie Child Child Behavior - psychology Child, Preschool Family Female

Female Humans Male Maternal Behavior - psychology Mother-Child Relations Object Attachment Observation Reactive Attachment Disorder

Note: Bold headings indicate primary MeSH headings or qualifiers.

Related articles

These are the most related articles currently in our database:

• Both maternal sensitivity and atypical maternal behavior independently predict attachment security and disorganization in adolescent mother-infant relationships. 18 Feb 2008
• Maternal behaviors and cognitions during discipline episodes: a comparison of power bouts and single acts of noncompliance. 27 Feb 1999
• Intrapersonal and maternal correlates of aggression, conflict, and externalizing problems in toddlers. 29 Nov 1998
• An ecological approach to development in children with prenatal drug exposure. 29 Sep 1999
• Mother-child interaction in autistic and nonautistic children: characteristics of maternal approach behaviors and child social responses. 30 Dec 2002
• The impact of maternal mental health and child's behavioural difficulties on attributions about child behaviours. 27 Feb 2003
• Disaggregating the distal, proximal, and time-varying effects of parent alcoholism on children's internalizing symptoms. 18 Sep 2007
• The effects of child temperament, maternal characteristics, and family circumstances on the maladjustment of school-age children. 30 Jan 1994
• Attitude mismatching: discrepancies in the sexual attitudes of African American mothers and their pre-adolescent children. 30 Dec 2006
• Relationships between maternal adult attachment security, child perceptions of maternal support, and maternal perceptions of child responses to sexual abuse. 30 Dec 2001

See 100+ related articles.

Related Article Map

Legend: - FREE Full text Article. - Abstract only. - Title only. More help.

See a larger map of 100+ related articles.