Parent Relationship Satisfaction and Reflective Functioning as Predictors of Emotional Availability and Infant Behavior

Abstract Marital and parenting systems are likely to interact during the first year of an infant’s life. This study examines longitudinal interrelations relationship satisfaction parental reflective functioning (PRF) their predictive relations with later emotional availability (EA) infant social-emotional behaviors (SEB) including skills as well behavioral problems among first-time Finnish mothers fathers (n = 556). The follow-up period was between three 12 months. In addition having direct effects, we examined a mediational model in which self-reports on PRF factors interest curiosity appropriateness reasoning would mediate effects previous parent dyadic side EA SEB at results show significant stability for both SEB. However, found differences fathers. For mothers, path analysis indicated support where earlier predicted problem also through current level PRF. fathers, had direct, but not mediated, social competence. Together, despite these differences, focusing clinically may prove preventing relational and/or difficulties