Adult attachment status predicts the developmental trajectory of maternal sensitivity in new motherhood among Chinese mothers

Abstract

Objectiveto investigate adult attachment status in first-time mothers, and stability and/or changes in maternal sensitivity during infancy. Designlongitudinal study using quantitative and qualitative methods, and statistical modelling. Three home visits were undertaken when the infant was approximately six, nine and 14 months old. The Adult-to-Parental Attachment Experience Survey was used, and scores for three dimensions were obtained: secure-autonomous, preoccupied and dismissive. Maternal sensitivity was assessed at each time point using the Maternal Behaviour Q-Sort by observing interaction between the mother and infant at home. Settinghomes and community settings in greater metropolitan Beijing, North China. Participants83 mothers and infants born in 2010 enrolled in this study. Data were missing for one or more time points in 20 cases. Findingsthe mean score for maternal sensitivity tended to increase from six to 14 months. Post-hoc analyses of one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed that maternal sensitivity was significantly higher at 14 months than at six or nine months. An unconditional latent growth model (LGM) of maternal sensitivity, estimated using the Bayesian approach, provided a good fit for the data. Using three attachment-related variables as predictors in the conditional LGM, the model fitting indices were found to be sufficient, and the results suggested that the secure score positively predicted the intercept of the growth model, and the dismissive score negatively predicted both the intercept and slope of the growth model. Key conclusionsmaternal sensitivity increased over time during infancy. Furthermore, individual differences existed in the developmental trajectory, which was influenced by maternal attachment status. Implications for practiceknowledge about attachment-related differences in the trajectory of first-time mothers׳ sensitivity to infants may help midwives and doctors to provide individualised information and support, with special attention given to mothers with a dismissive attachment status.