Volume 24, Issue 7 (10-2025)
JRUMS 2025, 24(7): 581-596 |
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Ethics code: IR.ACECR.ROYAN.REC.1401.102
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Mehraban G, Behzadpoor S, Ghoreyshi M. The Relationship between Maternal Reflective Functioning and Child’s Emotion Regulation and Social Skills and the Moderating Role of Paternal Reflective Functioning: A Descriptive Study. JRUMS 2025; 24 (7) :581-596
URL: http://journal.rums.ac.ir/article-1-7605-en.html
URL: http://journal.rums.ac.ir/article-1-7605-en.html
University of Science and culture
Abstract: (42 Views)
Background and Objectives: Reflective functioning is one of the important parenting skills.The aim of the present study was to examine the moderating role of fathers' reflective functioning in the relationship between mothers' reflective functioning and children's social skills and emotional regulation.
Materials and Methods: In the present descriptive study, a sample of 200 parents of children aged 3 to 10 years old in Tehran, in 2022, was selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using Parental Reflective Functioning, Children’s Social Skills, and Children’s Emotion Regulation Questionares. The data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation and hierarchical regression analyses.
Results: Based on the results, the mothers' pre-mentalizing was negatively correlated with emotional regulation (r=-0.141) and social skills in children (r=-0.214). Maternal curiosity about mental states was positively correlated with emotional regulation (r=0.191) and social skills in children (r=0.158) (p<0.05). Paternal curiosity about mental states showed a positive correlation with emotional regulation (r=0.251, p<0.001) and social skills in children (r=0.161, p<0.05). Fathers' pre-mentalizing moderated the relationship between maternal mentalization and children's social skills (β=0.912, p<0.01), as well as the relationship between maternal certainty in judging mental states and children's social skills (β=0.716) and emotional regulation (β=0.741, p<0.05). Moreover, paternal curiosity about mental states played a moderating role in the relationship between maternal curiosity about mental states and children's social skills (β=0.724, p<0.01) and emotional regulation (β=0.172, p<0.05).
Conclusion: It appears that father's reflective functioning has a moderating role in the relationship between mother's reflective functioning and child's social skills and emotional regulation. These findings suggest that this component can be effectively integrated into family education, prevention, and treatment programs.
Keywords: Mother's reflective functioning, Father's reflective functioning, Social skills, Child emotional regulation
Funding: This study did not have any funds.
Conflict of interest: None declared.
Ethical considerations: The Ethics Committee of Royan Institute approved the study (IR.ACECR.ROYAN.REC.1401.102).
Authors’ contributions:
- Conceptualization: Samaneh Behzadpoor
- Methodology: Golandam Mehraban
- Data collection: Golandam Mehraban
- Formal analysis: Golandam Mehraban
- Supervision: Samaneh Behzadpoor
- Project administration: Samaneh Behzadpoor
- Writing - original draft: Marzieh Ghoreyshi
- Writing - review & editing: Samaneh Behzadpoor, Marzieh Ghoreyshi
Materials and Methods: In the present descriptive study, a sample of 200 parents of children aged 3 to 10 years old in Tehran, in 2022, was selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using Parental Reflective Functioning, Children’s Social Skills, and Children’s Emotion Regulation Questionares. The data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation and hierarchical regression analyses.
Results: Based on the results, the mothers' pre-mentalizing was negatively correlated with emotional regulation (r=-0.141) and social skills in children (r=-0.214). Maternal curiosity about mental states was positively correlated with emotional regulation (r=0.191) and social skills in children (r=0.158) (p<0.05). Paternal curiosity about mental states showed a positive correlation with emotional regulation (r=0.251, p<0.001) and social skills in children (r=0.161, p<0.05). Fathers' pre-mentalizing moderated the relationship between maternal mentalization and children's social skills (β=0.912, p<0.01), as well as the relationship between maternal certainty in judging mental states and children's social skills (β=0.716) and emotional regulation (β=0.741, p<0.05). Moreover, paternal curiosity about mental states played a moderating role in the relationship between maternal curiosity about mental states and children's social skills (β=0.724, p<0.01) and emotional regulation (β=0.172, p<0.05).
Conclusion: It appears that father's reflective functioning has a moderating role in the relationship between mother's reflective functioning and child's social skills and emotional regulation. These findings suggest that this component can be effectively integrated into family education, prevention, and treatment programs.
Keywords: Mother's reflective functioning, Father's reflective functioning, Social skills, Child emotional regulation
Funding: This study did not have any funds.
Conflict of interest: None declared.
Ethical considerations: The Ethics Committee of Royan Institute approved the study (IR.ACECR.ROYAN.REC.1401.102).
Authors’ contributions:
- Conceptualization: Samaneh Behzadpoor
- Methodology: Golandam Mehraban
- Data collection: Golandam Mehraban
- Formal analysis: Golandam Mehraban
- Supervision: Samaneh Behzadpoor
- Project administration: Samaneh Behzadpoor
- Writing - original draft: Marzieh Ghoreyshi
- Writing - review & editing: Samaneh Behzadpoor, Marzieh Ghoreyshi
Keywords: Mother's reflective functioning, Father's reflective functioning, Social skills, Child emotional regulation
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
روانپزشكي
Received: 2024/12/24 | Accepted: 2025/08/10 | Published: 2025/10/18
Received: 2024/12/24 | Accepted: 2025/08/10 | Published: 2025/10/18
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