Mentalization and Attachment Style as Underlying Mechanisms of Linking Collective Efficacy with Parental Self-Efficacy

The importance of parental self-efficacy for parental and child well-being is well documented. Many studies demonstrate the significant positive relationship between collective efficacy and self-efficacy. Fewer studies have pointed to the underlying mechanisms of this relationship. The present study...

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Main Authors: Osnat Lavenda, Orit Hertz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Social Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/13/11/591
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author Osnat Lavenda
Orit Hertz
author_facet Osnat Lavenda
Orit Hertz
author_sort Osnat Lavenda
collection DOAJ
description The importance of parental self-efficacy for parental and child well-being is well documented. Many studies demonstrate the significant positive relationship between collective efficacy and self-efficacy. Fewer studies have pointed to the underlying mechanisms of this relationship. The present study aims to fill the knowledge gap by examining two such underlying mechanisms that constitute the essence of the parent–child relationship: pre-mentalization as the parent’s cognitive ability to interpret the child’s internal world and avoidant attachment as the parent’s emotional ability to be in a close relationship with the child. A survey was conducted with 262 married Israeli parents with children under the age of 12. Participants completed self-report questionnaires on collective efficacy, mentalizing ability, avoidant attachment style, and parental self-efficacy. In order to test the mediating role of parental mentalizing ability and avoidant attachment in the association between parental and collective efficacy, a mediation analysis with cross-sectional design was conducted using model 6 PROCESS 3.4 macro for SPSS. Results confirmed the direct relation between collective and parental self-efficacy. Additionally, results indicated a significant indirect effect of this association through low levels of pre-mentalization and avoidant attachment style. The results are discussed in light of the cyclical psychodynamic perspective, with recommendations for interventions that are set to improve parental self-efficacy.
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spelling doaj-art-263b83f89918463eb93806d6468b8d972025-08-20T02:04:41ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602024-10-01131159110.3390/socsci13110591Mentalization and Attachment Style as Underlying Mechanisms of Linking Collective Efficacy with Parental Self-EfficacyOsnat Lavenda0Orit Hertz1School of Social Work, Ariel University, Ariel 40700, IsraelSchool of Social Work, Ariel University, Ariel 40700, IsraelThe importance of parental self-efficacy for parental and child well-being is well documented. Many studies demonstrate the significant positive relationship between collective efficacy and self-efficacy. Fewer studies have pointed to the underlying mechanisms of this relationship. The present study aims to fill the knowledge gap by examining two such underlying mechanisms that constitute the essence of the parent–child relationship: pre-mentalization as the parent’s cognitive ability to interpret the child’s internal world and avoidant attachment as the parent’s emotional ability to be in a close relationship with the child. A survey was conducted with 262 married Israeli parents with children under the age of 12. Participants completed self-report questionnaires on collective efficacy, mentalizing ability, avoidant attachment style, and parental self-efficacy. In order to test the mediating role of parental mentalizing ability and avoidant attachment in the association between parental and collective efficacy, a mediation analysis with cross-sectional design was conducted using model 6 PROCESS 3.4 macro for SPSS. Results confirmed the direct relation between collective and parental self-efficacy. Additionally, results indicated a significant indirect effect of this association through low levels of pre-mentalization and avoidant attachment style. The results are discussed in light of the cyclical psychodynamic perspective, with recommendations for interventions that are set to improve parental self-efficacy.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/13/11/591avoidant attachmentpre-mentalizationcollective efficacyparentsself-efficacy
spellingShingle Osnat Lavenda
Orit Hertz
Mentalization and Attachment Style as Underlying Mechanisms of Linking Collective Efficacy with Parental Self-Efficacy
Social Sciences
avoidant attachment
pre-mentalization
collective efficacy
parents
self-efficacy
title Mentalization and Attachment Style as Underlying Mechanisms of Linking Collective Efficacy with Parental Self-Efficacy
title_full Mentalization and Attachment Style as Underlying Mechanisms of Linking Collective Efficacy with Parental Self-Efficacy
title_fullStr Mentalization and Attachment Style as Underlying Mechanisms of Linking Collective Efficacy with Parental Self-Efficacy
title_full_unstemmed Mentalization and Attachment Style as Underlying Mechanisms of Linking Collective Efficacy with Parental Self-Efficacy
title_short Mentalization and Attachment Style as Underlying Mechanisms of Linking Collective Efficacy with Parental Self-Efficacy
title_sort mentalization and attachment style as underlying mechanisms of linking collective efficacy with parental self efficacy
topic avoidant attachment
pre-mentalization
collective efficacy
parents
self-efficacy
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/13/11/591
work_keys_str_mv AT osnatlavenda mentalizationandattachmentstyleasunderlyingmechanismsoflinkingcollectiveefficacywithparentalselfefficacy
AT orithertz mentalizationandattachmentstyleasunderlyingmechanismsoflinkingcollectiveefficacywithparentalselfefficacy