Papers by Zeynep Biringen
In an investigation of gender-based differences in autonomy and relatedness in the mother-toddler... more In an investigation of gender-based differences in autonomy and relatedness in the mother-toddler dyad, gender-specific stylistic differences were found in mothers' sensitivity toward their toddlers. In the context of greater sensitivity, boys appeared to control the flow of interactions (initiation and maintenance) to a greater extent than did girls.
Previous research has provided some indication that lower parental sensitivity is associated with... more Previous research has provided some indication that lower parental sensitivity is associated with attachment insecurity, but as a field we have made little progress in understanding the diffmnces in the relational precursors of the various types of insecure attachment groups. The current presentation will suggest a ry=w direction in this regard.
Developmental Psychology, 1990
This study assessed whether three forms of maternal views (recall of her own parental acceptance,... more This study assessed whether three forms of maternal views (recall of her own parental acceptance, the sense of self, and perceptions of the child) are related to each other and to mother–child interaction. The Mother–Father–Peer Scale was sent to mothers of infants between the ages of 11 and 19 months; 37 mothers were selected as extremes on the basis of
Child Development, 1995
Clinical theory is replete with rich observations that the onset of walking engenders an enhancem... more Clinical theory is replete with rich observations that the onset of walking engenders an enhancement of emotional expression in the infant. Yet, no empirical research exists on this subject. Moreover, the importance of normal timing variations in the onset of developmental transitions has not been a topic of investigation in most developmental research. In this naturalistic home study, "earlier" and "later" walking groups were delineated on the basis of timing of entry into this developmental transition. Age-held constant analyses indicated that earlier walkers and their mothers generally showed a rise in positive exchanges as well as "testing of wills" across the transition to walking. These changes were less clear for the later walkers. Differences were observed also between the two groups even prior to walking. These findings suggest that future studies should take account of timing variations in the onset of a developmental transition.
Family Court Review, 2005
Kelly and Lamb (2000) recently provided a summary of the attachment literature and a set of guide... more Kelly and Lamb (2000) recently provided a summary of the attachment literature and a set of guidelines for visitation and custody for young children in divorced and separated families. Here, Solomon and Biringen review the same literature with an eye to critically evaluating these guidelines, especially the suggestion that more, rather than fewer, transitions between parents are appropriate for very young children. Three types of empirical findings raise questions regarding the appropriateness of Kelly and Lamb's guidelines. These include differences in the development of infant-mother and infant-father attachments, young children's sensitivity to overnight separations from the primary caregiver, and the possibility of infant preferences for primary versus secondary caregivers in times of stress. The authors argue that considerably more rigorous research is required before submitting Kelly and Lamb's suggestion to social policy.
Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 2008
This study concentrates on the postdivorce adjustment of parents and children in families with sh... more This study concentrates on the postdivorce adjustment of parents and children in families with shared parenting time arrangements. Thirty divorcing parents with children aged 12 to 59 months old were interviewed using a semistructured telephone interview regarding their early experiences in the divorce process. Findings showed that work–family balance issues were related to postdivorce parental adjustment for mothers. Interparental hostility was related to child alienation and paternal overnight stays. Length of time since physical separation was related to number of overnight stays. These results shed light on the early experiences of families with young children going through the divorce process.
Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 2010
... 02646830903219109 Sara Salo a * , Johanna Politi a , Sarimari Tupola a , Zeynep Biringen b , ... more ... 02646830903219109 Sara Salo a * , Johanna Politi a , Sarimari Tupola a , Zeynep Biringen b , Mirjam Kalland c , Erja Halmesmäki d , Hanna Kahila d & Satu Kivitie‐Kallio a pages 161-179. ... Murphy, M., Jellinek, M., Quinn, D., Smith, G., Poitrast, FG and Goshko, M. 1991. ...
Family Court Review, 2005
In a previous issue of this journal, Richard A. Warshak provided a summary of the developmental l... more In a previous issue of this journal, Richard A. Warshak provided a summary of the developmental literature as it bears on overnight restrictions during custody arrangements. Here, the authors comment on points of agreement and disagreement with Warshak based on their reading of the theoretical and empirical literature on development. Particular reference is made to Warshak's interpretation of attachment theory and research. Points of agreement include the importance of fathers and all caregivers in the infant/young child's life as well as the overstatement in the literature of the significance of separation experiences and a “sensitive period” for attachment. Points of clear disagreement include what the author contends is an erroneous review of the empirical literature on overnights with other caregivers. Based on their review of the data on overnight visitation, the authors conclude on a more cautious note.
Psychoanalytic Inquiry - PSYCHOANAL INQ, 1995
Perceptual and Motor Skills - PERCEPT MOT SKILLS, 2008
The observations of psychoanalytically oriented clinicians such as Mahler, Pine, and Bergman and ... more The observations of psychoanalytically oriented clinicians such as Mahler, Pine, and Bergman and Greenacre were descriptive of intriguing aspects of the infant's transition to upright locomotion. Yet, research on how walking creates changes in the infant and in the family have scarcely been studied. In this naturalistic home study, 46 infants were designated "earlier" (13 girls and 10 boys) and "later" (12 girls and 11 boys) walkers based on their relative timing of entry into this developmental transition. Analyses between these two groups were done with age held constant and indicated that the earlier walkers showed a greater rise in autonomous functioning across the transition to self-produced, upright locomotion. Autonomy was assessed as infant proximity-seeking and distancing with respect to mother and "testing of wills" between mother and child. These findings suggested that the timing of beginning to walk crucially affects the development of autonomy. In addition to these clear differences associated with the walking transition, there were differences between the two groups in an aspect of temperament, Distress to Limitations, even prior to walking onset as well as at all time points of measurement.
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry - AMER J ORTHOPSYCHIAT, 2000
The emotional availability construct (based on observations of paren t-child interactions) was fi... more The emotional availability construct (based on observations of paren t-child interactions) was first reconceptualized for research in 1991 as a way to describe the qualify of parentchild interactions. Since then, there has been considerable refinement of the construct. EA r e j m to several parental dimensions (sensitivity, structuring, nonin trusiveness, nonhostility) and two child dimensions (responsiveness to parent and involvement of parent). The EA empirical link with attachment and parent-child relationship are reviewed and avenues forjkture research are suggested.
Parenting, 2009
Objective. This study investigates observed and self-reported emotional availability in clinicall... more Objective. This study investigates observed and self-reported emotional availability in clinically depressed and nondepressed mother–infant pairs. Design. Observations of mother–infant interaction were made during 30-min free-play interaction during the first year of life in clinically postpartum depressed (n = 49) and nondepressed mothers (n = 35) in Flanders (Belgium). Results. Postpartum depressed mothers had significantly lower scores on most emotional availability dimensions, both as observed by clinicians and on the self-report measure of emotional availability, except for observed hostility and self-reported intrusiveness and hostility, and appeared to have difficulty in being engaged in play interaction with their infants. Both dyadic dimensions of the self-report questionnaire, mutual attunement and affect quality, are related to all six observed dimensions; children seen by their mothers as able to involve them in play are scored as responsive and involving by external observers; mothers of involving infants were observed as more sensitive; self-reported hostility is associated with observed nonhostility and nonintrusiveness; and, as expected, self-reported maternal intrusiveness is not related to observed nonintrusiveness or with other aspects of observed emotional availability. Conclusion. The current study underlines the differences in most aspects of observed and self-reported emotional availability between postpartum depressed and nondepressed mothers, as well the potential divergences between observed and self-perceived aspects of this construct.
Parenting-science and Practice - PARENT-SCI PRACT, 2009
Objective . The purpose was to compare emotional availability, maternal self-efficacy beliefs, an... more Objective . The purpose was to compare emotional availability, maternal self-efficacy beliefs, and child developmental status in caregiver–child relationships with prenatally buprenorphine-exposed and nonexposed 3-year-old children. Design. We compared prenatally buprenorphine-exposed children living either with the biological mother (n = 7) or in foster care (n = 14) to nonexposed participants (n = 13). Emotional availability was coded from videotaped parent-child free-play interactions. Results. After controlling for covariates, buprenorphine-exposed children scored lower on maternal Sensitivity and Nonhostility and child Responsiveness and Involvement as well as lower on the Bayley Cognitive and Language scales than did nonexposed children. As compared to foster mothers, biological mothers scored lower on Sensitivity and Nonhostility and self-efficacy beliefs, and their children scored lower on Responsiveness and the Bayley Cognitive Scale. Regardless of group status, the parenting variables were meaningfully related to child socioemotional variables. Conclusions . Buprenorphine-exposed children experienced more environmental risks in emotional availability and parental self-efficacy and performed worse on the Bayley as compared to nonexposed children.
Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1999
Infant Mental Health …, 1989
... Article. Attachment: The parental perspective. Inge Bretherton 1,* ,; Zeynep Biringen 2 ,; Do... more ... Article. Attachment: The parental perspective. Inge Bretherton 1,* ,; Zeynep Biringen 2 ,; Doreen Ridgeway 3 ,; Christine Maslin 4 ,; Michael Sherman 5. Article first published online: 13 FEB 2006. DOI: 10.1002/1097-0355(198923)10:3<203::AID-IMHJ2280100307>3.0.CO;2-8. ...
Developmental Review, 2014
ABSTRACT Emotional availability (EA), as a construct, refers to the capacity of a dyad to share a... more ABSTRACT Emotional availability (EA), as a construct, refers to the capacity of a dyad to share an emotionally healthy relationship. The Emotional Availability (EA) Scales assess this construct using a multi-dimensional framework, with scales measuring the affect and behavior of both the child and adult partner (caregiver). The four caregiver components are sensitivity, structuring, non-intrusiveness, and non-hostility. The two child components are the child’s responsiveness to the caregiver and the child’s involvement of the caregiver. We first describe this relationship construct, look at psychometric properties in basic and prevention/intervention efforts, then review the extant empirical literature in order to examine the scope of studies assessing EA by using the EA Scales. We also explore its use in clinical practice. Throughout, we critically evaluate the knowledge base in this area as well as identify areas for further growth.
Developmental Psychology, 1990
This study assessed whether three forms of maternal views (recall of her own parental acceptance,... more This study assessed whether three forms of maternal views (recall of her own parental acceptance, the sense of self, and perceptions of the child) are related to each other and to mother–child interaction. The Mother–Father–Peer Scale was sent to mothers of infants between the ages of 11 and 19 months; 37 mothers were selected as extremes on the basis of
Infant Mental Health …, 2005
... Direct correspondence to: Zeynep Biringen, Department of Human Devel-opment & Fam... more ... Direct correspondence to: Zeynep Biringen, Department of Human Devel-opment & Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins ... EA (emotional availability emotionale verpigharkest) Beurteilungen in ihrem Wert zur Vorhersage der kindlichen Entwicklung zu illustrieren ...
Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2013
Some mothers who have recently lost a significant attachment figure may become mentally incoheren... more Some mothers who have recently lost a significant attachment figure may become mentally incoherent and sporadically even enter a trancelike, dissociative state. Such states of mind have been shown to predict infant attachment disorganization. Infants born close to the time of a parental loss are at a greater risk for intergenerational trauma. A background of maternal substance abuse is also known to increase such risk. We illustrate by way of a case study how a mother-infant group psychotherapy programme aimed at substance-abusing mothers may help to prevent the transmission of mother's unresolved trauma to the infant. Another goal was to discuss how attachment-derived methods (namely, Adult Attachment Interview, Strange Situation Procedure and the Emotional Availability Scales) may aid in understanding the effects of the intervention.
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Papers by Zeynep Biringen