A Comprehensive Conceptual Review: Exploring the Link Between Parental Mentalization and Parental Executive Functioning and their Influence on Parental Behaviors

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Princess Nourah University

Abstract

This paper aims to conduct a comprehensive conceptual review, exploring the link between parental mentalization (PM) and parental executive functioning (EF) and their influence on parental behaviors. The intent is to introduce the Jay Belsky theoretical model that illustrates the processes that determine parental behaviors, followed by an overview for the four parental constructs chosen for this study: parental sensitive responsiveness and parental scaffolding/support for autonomy, parental mentalization, and parental EFs by linking parental behaviors theoretically to parental mentalization and parental EFs. Then, a special section explains the theoretical background that links PM with parental EFs. Following that, the paper will critically explore studies that investigate the relationships between 1) parental mentalization and parental behaviors, 2) parental EFs and parental behaviors, and 3) parental mentalization and parental EFs, each among mothers of preschoolers three to five years old and synthesize them to provide an initial revised evidence-based conceptual model. Lastly, it concludes with a discussion that summarizes supported links in the model and highlights the existing gap in the literature and limitations upon the constructs and measures.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  • Belsky, J. (1984). The determinants of parenting: A process model. Child Development, 55, 83–96
  • Bernier, A., Carlson, S. M., & Whipple, N. (2010). From external regulation to self-regulation: Early parenting precursors of young children’s executive functioning.ChildDevelopment,81,326–339.
  • Bordeleau, S., Bernier, A., & Carrier, J. (2012). Longitudinal associations between the quality of parent-child interactions and children’s sleep at preschool age. Journal of Family Psychology, 26, 254–262. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0027366.
  • Buchanan, T. (2016). Self-report measures of executive function problems correlate with personality, not performance-based executive function measures, in nonclinical samples. Psychological Assessment, 28(4), 372–385. https://doi-org.libproxy.unl.edu/10.1037/pas0000192
  • Carlson, S. M. (2003). Executive function in context: Development, measurement, theory, and experience. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 68 (Serial No. 274).
  • Carlson, S. M., Mandell, D. J., & Williams, L. (2004). Executive function and theory of mind: Stability and prediction from ages 2 to 3. Developmental Psychology, 40(6), 1105-22. doi:10.1037/0012-1649.40.6.1105
  • Carlson, S. M., and Zelazo, P. D. (2014). Minnesota Executive Function Scale. Manual and Technical Report. Saint Paul, MN: Reflection Sciences, Inc.
  • Cicchetti, D., & Rizley, R. (1981). Developmental perspectives on the etiology, intergenerational transmission and sequelae of child maltreatment. New Directions for Child Development, 11, 31–55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cd.23219811104
  • Colonnesi, C., van Polanen, M., Tavecchio, L. W. C., & Fukkink, R. G. (2017). Mind-mindedness of male and female caregivers in childcare and relation to sensitivity and attachment: An exploratory study. Infant Behavior and Development, 48, 134–146. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2017.04.006

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics