Linking Mechanisms between Attachment Quality During Infancy and Preschoolers’ Social Competence: Focusing on Continuity of Maternal Parenting Stress, Social Interaction, and Warmth

Abstract

Objectives This study examined an integrated model of maternal parenting stress, social interaction, and warmth as linking mechanisms between preschooler’s attachment quality at age 1 and social competence at age 6. Methods Participants were 172 preschoolers (89 boys and 83 girls all aged 6) and their mothers recruited for the in-depth Korea Child Panel Study. Results Attachment security at age 1 indirectly affected preschoolers’ social competence at age 6, mediated by the continuity of maternal parenting stress from age 2 to 6 and the continuity of maternal social interaction and warmth from age 2 to 6. Additionally, maternal parenting stress affected maternal parenting behavior during the same period. Attachment security at age 1 did not directly affect preschoolers’ social competence at age 6. Conclusion This study showed that the parenting environment and maternal social interaction and warmth should be considered to explain the effects of attachment security during infancy on preschoolers’ social competence. Keywords: attachment security during infancy, preschoolers’ social competence, maternal parenting stress, maternal social interaction and warmth, continuity of caregiving