In order to explore the psychological impact of the COVID‐19 outbreak on the caregiver– child relationship, we investigated the interplay among COVID‐19 exposure and children’s internalizing/externalizing problems during the Italian lockdown, hypothesizing a mediation effect played by maternal distress. Additionally, we included maternal reflective functioning (i.e., hypermentalization) as a moderator factor among this interplay. A total of 305 Italian mothers of children aged 6–13 years (M = 10.3; SD = 2.4) filled in an online survey. Findings revealed an indirect effect of maternal COVID‐19 exposure on children’s anxious/depressed (k2 = 0.46) and attention problems (k2 = 0.32) via maternal distress. Hypermentalization moderated the impact of maternal COVID‐19 exposure on children’s anxious/depressed problems (β = −1.08, p = 0.04). Hypermentalization moderated both the relation between maternal distress and children’s aggressive behaviors (β = 12.226; p < 0.001) and between maternal distress and children’s attention problems (β = 5.617, p < 0.001). We found pivotal significant effects of maternal hypermentalization on children’s anxious/depressed and attention problems, indicating that the higher the mother’s hypermentalization was, the higher the children’s problems were. Our results broaden what we knew on the role of maternal reflective and emotional functioning on children’s emotional/behavioral adjustment during stressful situations.

(2021). Maternal psychological distress and children’s internalizing/externalizing problems during the covid‐19 pandemic: The moderating role played by hypermentalization [journal article - articolo]. In INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10446/204840

Maternal psychological distress and children’s internalizing/externalizing problems during the covid‐19 pandemic: The moderating role played by hypermentalization

Bianco, Federica;Castelli, Ilaria
2021-01-01

Abstract

In order to explore the psychological impact of the COVID‐19 outbreak on the caregiver– child relationship, we investigated the interplay among COVID‐19 exposure and children’s internalizing/externalizing problems during the Italian lockdown, hypothesizing a mediation effect played by maternal distress. Additionally, we included maternal reflective functioning (i.e., hypermentalization) as a moderator factor among this interplay. A total of 305 Italian mothers of children aged 6–13 years (M = 10.3; SD = 2.4) filled in an online survey. Findings revealed an indirect effect of maternal COVID‐19 exposure on children’s anxious/depressed (k2 = 0.46) and attention problems (k2 = 0.32) via maternal distress. Hypermentalization moderated the impact of maternal COVID‐19 exposure on children’s anxious/depressed problems (β = −1.08, p = 0.04). Hypermentalization moderated both the relation between maternal distress and children’s aggressive behaviors (β = 12.226; p < 0.001) and between maternal distress and children’s attention problems (β = 5.617, p < 0.001). We found pivotal significant effects of maternal hypermentalization on children’s anxious/depressed and attention problems, indicating that the higher the mother’s hypermentalization was, the higher the children’s problems were. Our results broaden what we knew on the role of maternal reflective and emotional functioning on children’s emotional/behavioral adjustment during stressful situations.
articolo
2021
Bianco, Federica; Levante, Annalisa; Petrocchi, Serena; Lecciso, Flavia; Castelli, Ilaria
(2021). Maternal psychological distress and children’s internalizing/externalizing problems during the covid‐19 pandemic: The moderating role played by hypermentalization [journal article - articolo]. In INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10446/204840
File allegato/i alla scheda:
File Dimensione del file Formato  
mdpi hypermentalization.pdf

accesso aperto

Versione: publisher's version - versione editoriale
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione del file 9.98 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
9.98 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
Pubblicazioni consigliate

Aisberg ©2008 Servizi bibliotecari, Università degli studi di Bergamo | Terms of use/Condizioni di utilizzo

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10446/204840
Citazioni
  • Scopus 15
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 13
social impact