The aim of this study was to examine associations between
maternal mentalization, interactive behavior, and child symptoms in families in which mothers suffer from interpersonal
violence-related posttraumatic stress disorder (IPV-PTSD). Fiftysix mothers and children (aged 12–42 months) including
mothers with a diagnosis of IPV-PTSD were studied.
Mentalization was measured by the Parental Reflective
Functioning (PRF) Scale. Interactive behavior during free-play
was measured via the CARE-Index. Child symptoms were measured by the Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment
(ITSEA). Data analyses included non-parametric correlations
and multiple linear regression. Results showed that lower
IPV-PTSD and higher Maternal Reflective Functioning (MRF)
were related to greater maternal sensitivity. Lower MRF and
greater controlling behavior were related to child dysregulation. MRF was found to be lower in the subgroup of IPV-PTSD
when the child’s father was the perpetrator of IPV. Both MRF
and interactive behavior are thus likely to be important targets
for intervention during sensitive periods of early social–emotional development.