Introduction:There is limited research on disrupted maternal representations of the child, including possible mechanisms that may account for their impact on very young children's social-emotional well-being. Existing research suggests that maternal mental health symptoms, particularly those that may be related to experiences of interpersonal trauma, may be important to investigate. Method:Utilizing multi-method data, including the Working Model of the Child Interview, from a longitudinal study involving a community sample (N = 120) of women aged 18-42 who participated from their third trimester of pregnancy through 2 years post birth, the present study examined associations between disrupted prenatal maternal representations, infant and toddler social-emotional functioning, and perinatal (third trimester and 1-year post birth) maternal mental health symptoms (PTSD, depression, and anxiety). Results:Prenatal PTSD symptoms were the only maternal mental health symptoms significantly associated with degree of disrupted prenatal maternal representations and later infant and toddler social-emotional functioning. Mediation models revealed that maternal prenatal PTSD symptoms mediated the association between degree of disrupted prenatal maternal representations and infant, but not toddler, social-emotional functioning. Discussion:Findings highlight the importance of screening for maternal PTSD symptoms during the prenatal period as well as the value of early intervention when disrupted prenatal maternal representations are identified.

The development of maternal representations of the child during pregnancy guides a mother's thoughts, feelings, and behavior toward her child. The association between prenatal representations, particularly those that are disrupted, and toddler social-emotional functioning is not well understood. The present study examined associations between disrupted prenatal representations and toddler social-emotional functioning and to test disrupted maternal behavior as a mediator of this association. Data were drawn from 109 women from a larger prospective longitudinal study (N=120) of women and their young children. Prenatal disrupted maternal representations were assessed using the Working Model of the Child Interview disrupted coding scheme, while disrupted maternal behavior was coded 12-months postpartum from mother-infant interactions. Mother-reported toddler social-emotional functioning was assessed at ages 12 and 24 months. Disrupted prenatal representations significantly predicted poorer toddler social-emotional functioning at 24 months, controlling for functioning at 12 months. Further, disrupted maternal behavior mediated the relation between disrupted prenatal representations and toddler social-emotional problems. Screening for disrupted representations during pregnancy is needed to facilitate referrals to early intervention and decrease the likelihood of toddler social-emotional problems.

Data from a multi-method, longitudinal study involving a community sample (N = 120) of pregnant women aged 18-42 were used to examine disrupted maternal representations of the child as a mechanism of the transmission of trauma from mother to infant. Using structural equation modeling, the best fitting model indicated that severity of mothers' childhood interpersonal trauma was associated with severity of disruption in prenatal representations of the child, which in turn was associated with less secure infant-mother attachment at 1 year of age. There was a significant indirect effect of maternal childhood interpersonal trauma on infant-mother attachment insecurity via disrupted prenatal maternal representations. Findings highlight an important mechanism of trauma transmission that could be targeted in interventions with mother-infant dyads.

This Workshop provides attendees with step-by-step demonstration of techniques used in the 9-session, evidence-based, manualized Taming Sneaky Fears group Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) program developed specifically for children ages 4–7 years with various anxiety disorders.

This workshop focuses on the treatment of children (ages 4–7 years) with selective mutism (SM) and/or social anxiety disorder (SAD). It demonstrates various age-appropriate, effective strategies for working with young children with anxiety disorders, specifically SM and SAD, and their parents. The Taming Sneaky Fears program is a nine-session, evidence-based, manualized CBT program developed specifically for anxious children (ages 4–7 years) and modified for use in children with SM and SAD and their parents.

There is a paucity of research examining the stability of Unresolved/Disorganized (Unresolved) representations and associated scales of Unresolved Loss and Trauma, especially in high-risk samples in which Unresolved is more prevalent. Given the negative sequelae associated with Unresolved, understanding its developmental course is important. In this study, 55 adolescents were administered the Adult Attachment Interview prenatally, and again at 6 and 12 months postpartum. Findings revealed significant stability for the Unresolved classification over the transition to parenthood: Adolescents who were Unresolved prenatally were 8 and 18 times more likely to be classified as Unresolved when their infants were 6 and 12 months old, respectively. Growth curve modelling revealed that, on average, there was a steady linear decline in Unresolved loss scores over time, with a rate of change of 27% from the prenatal to 12 months postpartum assessments. There were also significant individual differences in this rate of change. Physical abuse was associated with higher levels of Unresolved loss at the prenatal assessment, and preoccupied attachment attenuated the likelihood of a decline over time in Unresolved loss scores. There was no significant mean rate of change for Unresolved trauma; however, there was considerable variability in scores, with some individuals increasing and others decreasing. Dismissing classifications and a history of sexual abuse were associated with higher levels of Unresolved trauma at the prenatal assessment, and severity of physical abuse was associated with increasing scores of Unresolved trauma over time. Theoretical and methodological implications of these findings are discussed.

The prototype hypothesis suggests that attachment representations derived in infancy continue to influence subsequent relationships over the life span, including those formed with one's own children. In the current study, we test the prototype hypothesis by exploring (a) whether child-specific representations following actual experience in interaction with a specific child impacts caregiver-child attachment over and above the prenatal forecast of that representation and (b) whether maternal attachment representations exert their influence on infant attachment via the more child-specific representation of that relationship. In a longitudinal study of 84 mother-infant dyads, mothers' representations of their attachment history were obtained prenatally with the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI; M. Main, R. Goldwyn, & E. Hesse, 2002), representations of relationship with a specific child were assessed with the Working Model of the Child Interview (WMCI; C.H. Zeanah, D. Benoit, & L. Barton, 1986), collected both prenatally and again at infant age 11 months, and infant attachment was assessed in the Strange Situation Procedure (M.D.S. Ainsworth, M.C. Blehar, E. Walters, & S. Wall, 1978) when infants were 11 months of age. Consistent with the prototype hypothesis, considerable correspondence was found between mothers' AAI and WMCI classifications. A mediation analysis showed that WMCI fully accounted for the association between AAI and infant attachment. Postnatal WMCI measured at 11 months' postpartum did not add to the prediction of infant attachment, over and above that explained by the prenatal WMCI. Implications for these findings are discussed.