The implications of parent mental health and wellbeing for parent-child attachment: A systematic review

Abstract

Background Parent mental health and wellbeing may have implications for understanding attachment transmission. In this systematic review, we synthesise the published literature to determine the nature of the relationship between parent mental health and wellbeing and the intergenerational transmission of attachment and to provide recommendations for future research, clinical practice and intervention. Method Using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) approach, five electronic databases were searched for peer-reviewed empirical studies, published in English. Articles were considered for inclusion if data was collected on adult attachment, child attachment, and a domain of parent mental health/wellbeing. No date parameters were applied to the search strategy. The review was registered with PROPSERO (registration number: CRD42020157247). Results Eleven studies examining the impact on parent mental health and wellbeing on the intergenerational transmission of attachment were identified for inclusion in this review. Our review found preliminary evidence that parent mental health and wellbeing play a role in the intergenerational transmission of attachment. Other key findings from the review were: evidence quality is mixed due to variable measurement of attachment and mental health; studies have mostly included correlational analysis or do not utilise contemporary methodological approaches to testing mediating or moderating relationships; and literature is largely focused on psychopathology and negative factors of mental health. Conclusions The limited scope of parent mental health and wellbeing constructs examined in the literature, the sparse use of robust statistical analyses, and the lack of literature in general makes it difficult to draw conclusions on how and why parent mental health impacts attachment transmission. Addressing these limitations will further progress attachment-related literature and may have particular implications for attachment-informed interventions with clinical populations.

Early psychosocial risk factors and postnatal parental reflective functioning

“…(2021) reported that higher anxiety scores on the HADS related to lower certainty about mental states and higher pre‐mentalizing modes scores, with no association with interest and curiosity in mental states. Research on parental anxiety and PRF is lacking, as a recent systematic review highlighted (Risi et al., 2021), and it is therefore difficult to draw strong conclusions on the relation between these factors without further investigation.…”

Exploring Indigenous Community Conceptions of Parent Wellbeing: A Qualitative Analysis

“…The influences of parent wellbeing on the parent–child dyad [ 1 , 2 , 3 ] and early child development [ 4 , 5 , 6 ] have been explored extensively in the general population. The most commonly researched parent wellbeing indicators include parental depression [ 7 ], trauma [ 8 ], problem gambling [ 9 ], and parental stress [ 10 ].…”

“…An expanding body of qualitative research on Indigenous wellbeing argues that the conceptualisation of wellbeing extends beyond this deficit-focus and should include positive wellbeing [ 23 ]. However, little is known about the contemporary conceptualisation of parent wellbeing, how its constructs might influence parents’ and child-specific outcomes, and if these constructs are sensitive to change in response to parent interventions [ 1 ].…”

A systematic review on the mental health of parents of individuals with learning disabilities

“…Research conducted with parents of typically developing children informs us that if a parent has a mental health difficulty, they may have to rely on their child to take on ageinappropriate responsibilities (Aldridge and Becker, 2003) with their own needs overshadowing the vulnerability of their offspring (Monds-Watson et al, 2010). We know from research in this field that poor parental mental health is associated with child behavioural difficulties (Mowbray et al, 2006) and can impact parent-child attachment (Risi et al, 2021) with insecure attachment contributing to the development of mental health disorders (Mikulincer and Shaver, 2012). With this in mind, it could be hypothesised that having a child with LD, could impact the mental health of parents, which could then overshadow the vulnerability of the individual with LD who may then develop their own mental health difficulties.…”