Interactional mind-mindedness: measurement in caregiver-preschooler dyads before and after the Circle of Security 20-week intervention

This study had two related aims: to explore the validity of the interactional mind-mindedness measure for use with caregiver-preschooler dyads in an attachment-activating context; and to investigate whether mind-mindedness changed following the Circle of Security 20-week intervention. This involved measuring interactional mind-mindedness in 55 caregivers of preschool children (reported only once previously) using archived footage of theStrange Situation Procedure (not reported previously). Baseline scores for appropriate mind-related comments were significantly correlated with attachment security, caregiver reflective functioning and positive caregiving representations, and there was a significant negative correlation with attachment disorganisation. While most caregivers did not make non-attuned mind-related comments, the proportions were notably higher than in previous research. Baseline mind-mindedness scores did not differ significantly by demographic variables, but there were significant differences in proportions of appropriate mind-related comments according to psychosocial risk factors. Findings support the validity of the interactional mind-mindedness measure for use with caregivers of preschoolers in an attachment-activating context. They further suggest that mind-mindedness can be a useful construct when exploring the effects of attachment-based interventions. Results of pre-post analyses indicated no significant change in mind-mindedness scores after the intervention for the whole sample, but a significant interaction effect, whereby those with low mind-mindedness prior to the intervention made significant improvements. Results are discussed in relation to implications for the assessment of mind-mindedness in older children, the potential to change mind-mindedness using attachment basedinterventions, and the need for further research to explore whether mind-mindedness may be one pathway through which the Circle of Security intervention may bring about changes in parenting and thereby child attachment.