High levels of the openness trait are associated with better parental reflective functioning in mothers with substance use disorders

Merete Glenne Øie; Ingebjørg Emilie Aarnes; Lise Horndalsveen Eilertsen; Kerstin Söderström; Eivind Ystrom; Ulrika Håkansson

Addictive Behaviors Reports (Dec 2020)

High levels of the openness trait are associated with better parental reflective functioning in mothers with substance use disorders

Merete Glenne Øie,
Ingebjørg Emilie Aarnes,
Lise Horndalsveen Eilertsen,
Kerstin Söderström,
Eivind Ystrom,
Ulrika Håkansson

Affiliations

Merete Glenne Øie: Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Research, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Lillehammer, Norway; Corresponding author at: Institute of Psychology, University of Oslo, Box 1094 Blindern, 0317 Oslo, Norway.
Ingebjørg Emilie Aarnes: Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
Lise Horndalsveen Eilertsen: Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
Kerstin Söderström: Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Lillehammer, Norway
Eivind Ystrom: PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway; Pharmacoepidemiology & Drug Safety Research Group, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
Ulrika Håkansson: Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Lillehammer, Norway

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12
p. 100318

Abstract

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Aims: Mothers with substance use disorders (SUD) often show impairments in parental reflective functioning (PRF), which may have adverse effects on their capacity for sensitive caregiving. Parenting personality is also associated with caregiving. However, no studies have investigated how these individual factors may contribute to variance in PRF in mothers with SUD. In this study PRF and personality were assessed in 43 mothers with SUD. Methods: PRF was assessed by the Parent Development Interview. Personality traits were assessed by the Revised Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Personality Inventory. Results: The results indicate that higher levels of the Openness trait are associated with better PRF. Conclusion: Mothers low in Openness may need more specific and situational training in interpreting mental states in their children. Highly open mothers with SUD will likely need more help distinguishing the child’s mental states from their own, and might need help to maintain mutuality and regulating the intensity of their responses to the child’s behavior.

Published in Addictive Behaviors Reports

ISSN: 2352-8532 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Philosophy. Psychology. Religion: Psychology; Social Sciences: Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/addictive-behaviors-reports

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