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Reflectivity: Key Ingredient in Positive Adolescent Parenting

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Abstract

Forty-six low-income adolescent mother-infant pairs (M age = 17.2 years) were randomly assigned at birth to a control (C) or an experimental group (E). All dyads were videotaped in teaching, play, and feeding sessions at entry visit, 3-month post-program visit, and a follow-up visit at 5-6 months. E mothers received weekly home visits to enhance maternal skills and sensitivity and were interviewed in depth regarding their own family-of-origin experiences. Maternal reflectivity about her own past proved significantly associated with sensitive and more growth enhancing parenting practices, as well as increased responsivity to infant distress.

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Brophy-Herb, H.E., Honig, A.S. Reflectivity: Key Ingredient in Positive Adolescent Parenting. The Journal of Primary Prevention 19, 241–250 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022652011620

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022652011620

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