The impact of maternal depression on maternal mind-mindedness and emotional availability during interaction with preschoolers

Maternal mind-mindedness and emotional availability were examined in 68 middle-class
mothers and their 4-year-old children who had
participated in a prospective study of postnatal
depression and child development. Each motherchild
dyad was videotaped in their home during a
20-minute play interaction and aspects of emotional
availability were assessed using the Emotional Availability
Scales (EA) (Biringen, et al., 1998). A
maternal interview (Meins et al., 1998) was used to
measure maternal mind-mindedness (MM) and the
frequency and the proportion of mental comments
were calculated. An association that approached
significance was found between current maternal
depressive symptoms and EA sensitivity (r = -.23, p
= .06), with mothers who reported more depressive
symptoms being less sensitive in interaction with
their children. Maternal depressive symptoms were
also related to MM scores (r = -.35, p = .OO) with
depressed mothers using significantly fewer mind
related comments. Mothers who used fewer mind
related comments were more likely to be intrusive
and hostile in interaction with their child. Lower
mind-mindedness scores in depressed mothers are
discussed with reference to the preoccupation with
themselves and their own emotional state, which
has been noted in depressed mothers.