My baby in mind! Preliminary findings on mind-mindedness and sensitivity as mediators of child attachment security following an attachment video-feedback intervention in child protection settings.

Abstract

Although longitudinal research has underscored the roles of mind-mindedness and parental sensitivity in the development of early attachment, their individual and joint contributions to attachment-focused interventions remain unexplored. This study examined whether parental mind-mindedness and sensitivity mediated the association between exposure to attachment video-feedback intervention (AVI) and attachment security among parent-child dyads involved with Child Protection Services. Using a post-intervention paired design, 67 parent-child dyads (children aged 2-3 years) were compared: AVI (n = 39) and wait-list controls not yet assigned to any intervention (n = 28). Mind-mindedness, parental sensitivity and child attachment were assessed during a 30-minute free-play session three weeks post-AVI. Mediation analyses showed that mind-mindedness and sensitivity independently mediated the intervention-attachment security link, with no sequential effect. Lower non-attuned comments and greater parental sensitivity were associated with greater security. These findings suggest explanatory mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of attachment-based interventions in childhood maltreatment contexts.