Exploring the association between mother's insecure adult attachment and negative parenting behaviour: the role of general and maternal mentalization

Negative parenting behaviours can adversely affect child development, and understanding the underlying mechanisms is crucial. This study examines whether adult attachment anxiety and avoidance are associated with negative parenting behaviours and whether general and maternal mentalization mediate these associations. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 267 first-time mothers of children aged 1 to 5 years, who completed self-report measures of adult attachment, general mentalization, maternal mentalization, and negative parenting behaviours. Higher adult attachment anxiety and avoidance were associated with lower general and maternal mentalization and greater negative parenting behaviours. Mediation analysis indicated that general mentalization partially mediated these relationships, while maternal mentalization fully mediated the attachment avoidance–negative parenting link. Findings highlight the associations between adult attachment, mentalization, and parenting behaviours, emphasizing the need for further longitudinal studies to examine causal mechanisms.