The Context of Infant Attachment in Family Child Care

Abstract

An exploratory study of attachment security with family child care providers was conducted with 41 toddlers (age 12–19 months). Temporal stability of caregiver–child attachment security was assessed using the Attachment Q-Set, observing each dyad on two occasions, 1 to 2 weeks apart. Contextual correlates of child care provider attachment were also examined, including infant and family background characteristics, infant–provider interactive involvement, quality of the parent–provider relationship, provider characteristics and working conditions, and aspects of child care quality. Attachment Q-Set security and infant–provider interactive involvement were found to be stable over time. Correlations and path analyses revealed that significant direct predictors of attachment security were the level of infant–provider interactive involvement, family socioeconomic status, and overall child care quality. Significant indirect predictors of attachment security (mediated through infant–provider interactive involvement) were child care group size, number of months with the provider, and age at entry into child care.