Stressful life events and prenatal representations of the child

Figures & data

Table 1. Summary of WMCI representation subscales.

Representation	Characterized by:
Balanced Representations:
Balanced–Full	Exceptionally coherent, open, and rich. The child is cherished and clearly in-focus with little sense of distortion or anxious occupation.
Balanced–Restricted	Restriction in feeling about the child. The caregiver may be affectively muted or minimize the importance of the relationship with the child.
Balanced–Strained	Some strain is present in the caregiver’s relationship with the child. The caregiver may perceive the child as difficult or confusing, however, the caregiver is aware of this strain.
Disengaged Representations:
Disengaged–Impoverished	A significant lack of the caregiver’s psychological involvement with the child. The caregiver seems largely indifferent to the child or may have an aversion to them.
Disengaged–Suppressed	Emotional constriction or aloofness pervades the interview. The caregiver has some thoughts and concerns about the child but maintains an unmistakable emotional distance.
Distorted Representations:
Distorted–Distracted	An inability to focus on the child and their relationship with them. The caregiver may be focusing on a variety of concerns unrelated to the child.
Distorted–Confused	Marked incoherence in the form of the caregiver’s confusion and uncertainty about the child and their relationship with them.
Distorted–Role-Reversed	A desire in the caregiver for the child to bear an excessive psychological burden for the relationship. Usually desiring friendship with or compliance from the child.
Distorted–Self-Involved	An unmistakable sense of the caregiver’s preoccupation with self rather than with the child. The child is valued as a reflection of the caregiver, rather than as an individual.

Summaries from Zeanah et al. (1996) Working Model of the Child Interview Coding Manual.

Figure 1. WMCI representation classifications by overall representation and subclassifications.

Note. Balanced n = 179, Disengaged n = 43, Distorted n = 74.

Table 2. Descriptive statistics for continuous variables of interest.

Variable	Mean	SD	Range
Lifespan Stressful Events	5.93	3.67	0–18
Childhood Stressful Events	1.58	1.61	0–7
Pregnancy Stressful Events	0.26	0.55	0–3
Benevolent Childhood Experiences	9.27	1.37	0–10

Table 3. Bivariate Pearson correlations.

	1.	2.	3.	4.
1. Lifespan Stressful Events	–
2. Childhood Stressful Events	.62**	–
3. Pregnancy Stressful Events	.28**	.20**	–
4. Benevolent Childhood Experiences	−.28**	−.20**	−.09	–

*p < .05.**p < .01.Correlations for representations (i.e. 5–7) are not provided given they are mutually exclusive classifications.

Figure 2. Odds ratio for being classified as balanced vs. disengaged (top panel) and balanced vs. Distorted (bottom panel) by stress.

Zeanah, C. H. (1996). Beyond insecurity: A reconceptualization of attachment disorders of infancy. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 64(1), 42–52. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-006x.64.1.42

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