Browsing by Author "Haarala, Hannu"

The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between finnish first time parents reflec-tive functioning and impressions (representations) of the child. Theory and previous studies have shown connection between parents´ reflective functioning and the valence (positive – negative) of impressions or representations. The parents´ impressions of the child have previously been in-vestigated as representations, that are connected with reflective functioning and which affect the quality of interaction between the parent and the child. The purpose of this study is to offer knowledge for well-baby clinic workers. The sample consisted of finnish first time parents, with 355 mothers and 107 fathers. This low-risk sample was collected by online questionnare when the child was two years old. Associations between reflective functioning and impressions of the child were examined based on correla-tions. Between groups comparisons (mother-boy, mother-girl, father-boy, father-girl) were exam-ined by variance analysis. Correlations between parents´ reflective functioning and impressions of the child were largely as expected; robust parents´ reflective functioning was associated with positive impressions of the child. Results show what kind of impressions of the child are connected to reflective functioning in this study.