Abstract
Parental reflective functioning is a potential target for promoting sensitive caregiving behaviors, particularly for parents at higher risk for difficulties in reflective functioning due to depressive symptomatology. The present study tested the modifiability of parental reflective functioning using a brief online intervention. Parents (n = 94; mean age = 34.20 years, SD = 5.20; 60% male; 79% White) living in the U.S. or Canada with at least one child (ages 18–36 months) were recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk. Participants viewed photos of children engaged in activities and were randomized to instructions to look at the photos, reflect on the child’s mental state or reflect on the child’s physical state. The study examined whether parents’ reflection on their own child’s mental state differed as a function of directed reflection, the type of reflection, and in relation to depressive symptoms. The main effect of the intervention on parental reflection on their own child’s mental state was not significant. There was a significant interaction between the intervention and parents’ depressive symptoms, such that among parents with higher symptoms, directed reflection on mental state or physical state was associated with greater reflection relative to the control (i.e., look) condition. These results indicate that a brief online intervention may provide opportunities for enhanced parental reflective functioning among parents with elevated depressive symptoms.