Mother-child Joint Play: The Role of Maternal Caregiving and Reflective Function

Grounded in Attachment Theory core conceptualization, maternal caregiving system, and reflective functioning this study aimed at examining whether maternal mental state and dispositions translate to how mothers play with their children.

This study utilized an explanatory sequential mixed-method design consisting of qualitative approach and a quantitative cross-sectional design to explore maternal caregiving, reflective functioning, and support provided to child during joint play at the home environment. Seventy mother-child dyads were sampled for the quantitative phase. Measures used: Caregiving System Function scale, Rumination-Reflection Questionnaire, and an observation scale, Parent/Caregiver Support of Child’s Playfulness to asses 15-min video recording of joint play. Next, twenty observations were selected for the qualitative analysis.

Maternal avoidant caregiving predicted reflective functioning, R² = 0.15, β = −0.038. Anxious caregiving predicted rumination tendency, R² = 0.16, β = 0.41. Reflective functioning predicted maternal support during joint play, R² = 0.27, β = 0.27. Maternal caregiving dispositions predicated reflective functioning, which in turn predicted maternal support of child playfulness during joint play. From the qualitative analysis, of a sub-set of 20 dyads, the Balancing of task-oriented and process-oriented behaviors framework emerged and deepened our understanding of joint play experience during middle childhood period.

Mothers who demonstrated enhanced support of their child’s playfulness demonstrated higher reflective functioning. Researchers, as well as clinicians, can use the proposed framework to explore maternal support and parental dispositions and its effect on child’s and dyadic behaviors.