Abstract
The present study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze the concurrent and longitudinal relationship between caregiver sensitivity and preschool attachment measured using the Main and Cassidy (1988) and Cassidy and Marvin (1992) attachment classification systems. This review was pre-registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; Registration Number CRD42017073417) and completed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The present review identified 36 studies made up of 21 samples (N = 3, 847) examining the relationship between caregiver sensitivity and preschool attachment. Eight primary meta-analyses were conducted separately according to the proximity of the assessment of sensitivity to attachment (i.e., concurrent versus longitudinal), operationalization of caregiver sensitivity (i.e., unidimensional versus multidimensional) and attachment categorizations (i.e., secure-insecure versus organized-disorganized). Overall, the meta-analyses revealed higher levels of caregiver sensitivity among caregivers with secure and organized preschoolers, relative to insecure and disorganized preschoolers, respectively. Medium effect sizes (g = .46 to .59) were found for both longitudinal and concurrent associations between caregiver sensitivity and preschool attachment when a unidimensional measure of caregiver sensitivity was employed, compared to small to medium effect sizes (g = .34 to .49) when a multidimensional measure of caregiver sensitivity was employed. Child age at attachment measurement was a significant moderator of the longitudinal association between unidimensional caregiver sensitivity and preschool attachment. Future directions for the literature and clinical implications are discussed.
Highlights
The relationship between preschool attachment and mental healthMental health disorders occur in approximately 10–20% of children and adolescents across the globe, with 50% of mental health difficulties beginning by early adolescence and 75% occurring by early adulthood [1]
A review of the literature investigating the intricate relationship between caregiver sensitivity and preschool attachment is necessary to work toward understanding potential mechanisms of improving attachment issues and mental health from childhood through adulthood
During full-text review it was determined that all of the French articles were drawn from the same samples of English articles by the Moss research group that have been included in the present review
Summary
The relationship between preschool attachment and mental healthMental health disorders occur in approximately 10–20% of children and adolescents across the globe, with 50% of mental health difficulties beginning by early adolescence and 75% occurring by early adulthood [1]. In order to develop programs targeting early mental health prevention, it is essential to identify and understand potential risk factors of child mental health. In order to improve child attachment and mental health, it is necessary to elucidate how and why these attachment difficulties may develop. A caregivers’ sensitivity toward their child is one factor that has been proposed as a potential predictor of child attachment [7] This is supported by more recent reviews [5, 6], which identify that parent interventions, mostly aimed at improving parental sensitivity, are related to decreased disorganized attachment outcomes. A review of the literature investigating the intricate relationship between caregiver sensitivity and preschool attachment is necessary to work toward understanding potential mechanisms of improving attachment issues and mental health from childhood through adulthood
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