Father- and mother-infant face-to-face interactions: Differences in mind-related comments and infant attachment?

The present research explored the relations among fathers' and mothers' appropriate mind-related comments during interactions with their 6-month-old infants, and subsequent infant attachment security. More frequent occurrences of mind-related comments were expected to predict frequency of synchrony which, in turn, was expected to predict attachment security. For both mothers and fathers, frequency of interactional synchrony was found to mediate the relation between mind-related comments and attachment security. Results are discussed in terms of children's future perspective-taking skills, friendships and social adaptation. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.