Tracking Changes in Maternal Mind‐Mindedness Across Children's Transition to Siblinghood in China

ABSTRACT Research on mind‐mindedness is flourishing but remains limited both in geographical scope and by the scarcity of longitudinal designs. Framed within a larger study of the transition to siblinghood in China, we addressed these gaps by following 138 Chinese mothers (82% university educated) from late pregnancy for a second child (Time 1; M weeks = 32) to two months postpartum (Time 2; M interval = 3.40 months). At both time points mothers completed (a) the Five‐Minute Speech Sample paradigm, with transcripts coded for the proportion of mental attributes and positive valence mental attributes (i.e., positive mind‐mindedness), and (b) questionnaire measures of maternal mental health, child‐mother relationship quality, and internalizing and externalizing problems in their firstborn child ( M T1 age = 4.48 years, SD = 1.66; 38.4% boys). Mean mind‐mindedness (not positive mind‐mindedness) increased significantly across this period of family change. Cross‐lagged analyses showed that, controlling for baseline child internalizing symptoms, expectant mothers’ positive mind‐mindedness predicted fewer internalizing problems post‐birth. Conversely, initial child internalizing symptoms were inversely associated with positive mind‐mindedness post‐birth. This bidirectional relationship highlights the dynamic nature of mind‐mindedness and suggests that positive MM supports Chinese firstborns’ adjustment during the sibling transition.