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Circle of Security-Parenting Randomized Waitlist Control Study: Change in Reflective Functioning Explains Positive Caregiver Behavior

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Abstract

Sensitive and responsive parenting is known to promote secure attachment. Caregiver reflective functioning (RF), one’s capacity to mentalize, is a critical mechanism for caregiver behaviors supportive of secure attachment. Interventions targeting RF can improve caregiving quality, and in turn, attachment security. One such promising intervention is Circle of Security-Parenting (COS-P), a brief eight-week parenting program designed to improve caregiver behaviors known to promote attachment security. Using a randomized wait-list control design, we examined the efficacy of the COS-P program in improving caregiver RF, and in turn, positive caregiver behaviors. The present sample of forty-six primary caregivers (3 fathers, 40 mothers, 1 grandfather, 2 grandmothers) were predominately low-income and people of color. Caregivers were randomly assigned to the COS-P intervention group or wait-list control group. Pre/post data collection included demographic information, interview to assess RF (PDI-R2-S), and a caregiver-child semi-structured play interaction (Crowell). As a result of the brief intervention, intervention caregivers, compared to control group caregivers, demonstrated significant growth in RF, behavioral responsiveness, and emotional responsiveness. Caregiver RF at posttest explained a significant amount of variance in both posttest behavioral and emotional responsiveness above and beyond pretest RF, pretest parenting behavior, and intervention condition. Using a randomized waitlist control trial, and a gold-standard measure of RF, these findings extend previous literature by not only demonstrating a significant intervention effect on key outcomes known to promote attachment security, but also by highlighting the important role that caregiver RF plays in this process.

Highlights

  • This study explored the impact of Circle of Security parenting training on caregiver reflective functioning and parenting.

  • This trial demonstrated significant growth in parental reflective functioning and responsiveness for those in intervention.

  • These findings highlight the impact of a targeted, brief intervention on parenting behaviors known to promote attachment.

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Acknowledgements

This project was supported by a Family Engagement Community Grant from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning and a mini-grant from the Rome-Floyd County Commission on Children and Youth. The authors are especially grateful to the families and staff at the South Rome Early Learning Center for their partnership in this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Berry College, P.O. Box 495019, Mount Berry, GA, 30149, USA

    Casey A. Dexter

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Michigan Medicine, 4250 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Kristyn Wong

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Correspondence to Casey A. Dexter.

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Dexter, C.A., Wong, K. Circle of Security-Parenting Randomized Waitlist Control Study: Change in Reflective Functioning Explains Positive Caregiver Behavior. J Child Fam Stud 33, 504–514 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-023-02710-0

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