Attachment Behavior Research Articles

Revisiting the childcare–attachment question: under what conditions is childcare participation associated with mother–child attachment security?

ABSTRACT Decades have passed since the controversy regarding the putative risks of childcare for mother–child attachment broke out. Yet, some uncertainty remains, as relevant studies have produced inconsistent evidence. Some have proposed that those conflicting findings may be due to the fact that the effects of childcare are conditioned on parenting. Accordingly, this study examined whether relations between childcare participation and mother–child attachment vary according to maternal sensitivity and autonomy support. In this sample of 236 mother–child dyads, there was no indication of main effects of childcare participation on attachment. There were, however, some interactive effects, such that the children who showed the least secure attachment behaviors were those who did not attend childcare and had either less sensitive or less autonomy-supportive mothers. The findings suggest that the effects of childcare on mother–child attachment are best understood in light of the parenting children receive at home.

Impact of nano- and micro-sized polystyrene beads on larval survival and growth of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas

This study successionally monitored how nano- and micro-sized polystyrene beads (MNPs) influence larval mortality, growth, and attachment behavior of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas related to MNP diameter and concentration. D-shaped larvae were sequentially exposed to three-diameter MNPs (0.55, 3.00, 6.00 µm) at five concentrations (0, 0.1, 1.0, 10, 20 μg/mL), and their mortality, growth stages and attachment were observed daily until they die. In addition, MNP intake and accumulation in larvae at each growth stage were determined using fluorescent beads. Deterioration in larval growth and survival was observed under all the exposure conditions, while significant negative effects on the growth parameters were defined with smaller MNPs at lower concentrations. Fluorescent signals were detected in larval digestive tracts at all except D-shaped larval stage, and on the mantle and foot in pediveligers. Therefore, MNP intake adversely affects larval physiological conditions by the synchronal effects of MNP size and concentration. Our findings highlight the implications of MNP characteristics on Pacific oyster larvae, emphasizing the interplay between size, concentration, and physiological responses, crucial for mitigating nanoparticle pollution in marine ecosystems.

Effects of carbon source starvation and riboflavin addition on selective corrosion of welded joint by Desulfovibrio vulgaris

This study systematically explores the impact of carbon source starvation (CCS) and the addition of riboflavin on the corrosion of X80 welded joints by Desulfovibrio vulgaris. The results showed that the Desulfovibrio vulgaris corrosion of the welded joint was apparently selective under the independent action of CCS or riboflavin addition, while the selectivity distinctly decreased under their combined action. More grain boundaries and higher proportion of the low-angle grain boundaries in the base metal and welding zone were the reasons for the selective corrosion. The attachment behavior of the Desulfovibrio vulgaris cells was responsible for the decreasing of the selectivity.

Anxious about rejection, avoidant of neglect: Infant marmosets tune their attachment based on individual caregiver’s parenting style

Children’s secure attachment with their primary caregivers is crucial for physical, cognitive, and emotional maturation. Yet, the causal links between specific parenting behaviors and infant attachment patterns are not fully understood. Here we report infant attachment in New World monkeys common marmosets, characterized by shared infant care among parents and older siblings and complex vocal communications. By integrating natural variations in parenting styles and subsecond-scale microanalyses of dyadic vocal and physical interactions, we demonstrate that marmoset infants signal their needs through context-dependent call use and selective approaches toward familiar caregivers. The infant attachment behaviors are tuned to each caregiver’s parenting style; infants use negative calls when carried by rejecting caregivers and selectively avoid neglectful and rejecting caregivers. Family-deprived infants fail to develop such adaptive uses of attachment behaviors. With these similarities with humans, marmosets offer a promising model for investigating the biological mechanisms of attachment security.

Development of a rating scale for maladaptive symptoms by maltreatment: Perspectives of attachment and dissociation.

Child abuse has been increasing in Japan. Abused children's behavior may often be confused with neurodevelopmental disorders; therefore, specialized tools to identify these cases and specific care for maltreatment are crucial. This study aimed to develop an objective early screening scale for abuse-related maladaptive symptoms. To do this, two surveys were conducted. Survey 1 included 60 children attending public elementary schools, who had been admitted to orphanages due to abuse (maltreated group), and 154 children attending public elementary schools with no reported maltreatment (control group). In this survey, 40 existing scale items related to attachment behavior and dissociative symptoms were evaluated. Childcare staff and homeroom teachers evaluated children's behaviors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to determine optimal cut-off values. In Survey 2, 39 children in the maltreatment group and 186 children in the control group were subjected to confirmatory factor analysis to examine the new scale's reliability and validity. Based on the results of an exploratory factor analysis, a two-factor, 20-item rating scale for maladaptive symptoms due to maltreatment (RS-MSM) was developed. The receiver operating characteristic curve indicated that cutoff values set in Survey 1 were appropriate for screening the general population and children in the clinical range. The results confirmed a two-factor structure with high reliability and convergent validity in the Survey 2 sample. Therefore, the developed RS-MSM scale is valid and will allow for easy screening of maltreated children at school.

Digital art exhibitions and psychological well-being in Chinese Generation Z: An analysis based on the S-O-R framework

In the post-pandemic era, there has been a heightened global focus on the mental health challenges facing individuals, with a particular emphasis on innovative and effective therapeutic approaches. Despite the extensive body of research within the realm of art therapy addressing individual psychological healing, the potential of digital mediums in this field has been largely overlooked. This gap is especially pronounced in studies targeting the unique demographic of Generation Z, known as ‘digital natives.’ This study aims to investigate the role of engagement in online digital exhibitions as a potential restorative intervention for enhancing the mental well-being of Generation Z users. Grounded in the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) framework and the theory of restorative environments, this research examines the psychological responses of Generation Z participants to online digital art exhibitions, particularly from the perspective of website aesthetics. The impact of these responses on users’ place attachment and loyalty behaviors is also explored. Utilizing a structural equation modeling approach, an online digital art exhibition was deployed on the ZEPETO app, a platform popular among Chinese Generation Z users. Participants were subsequently invited to partake in an online survey post-exhibition, yielding a dataset of 332 valid responses. The findings reveal that: (1) the four design elements of website aesthetics (coherence, novelty, interactivity, immersion) significantly influence the perceived restoration among Generation Z users, with immersion being the most influential factor; (2) perceived restoration and place attachment are crucial predictors of loyalty behavior; (3) perceived restoration has a positive impact on the place attachment of Generation Z users towards online digital art exhibitions. This study demonstrates that online digital art exhibitions can facilitate an emotional healing journey for Generation Z, contributing to the alleviation of psychological stress and the promotion of psychological well-being. Moreover, digital technology exhibitions have the potential to transcend human creativity and imagination, offering a unique and promising pathway for future research and practices in design related to emotional healing.

Understanding the influence of environmental triggers on tourists' pro-environmental behaviors in the Pakistan’s tourism industry

PurposeThe research analyzes the influence of three environmental triggers, i.e. awareness, concern and knowledge on environmental attachment and green motivation that affect tourists' pro-environmental behavior in the Pakistan’s tourism industry. Furthermore, this study has analyzed the moderating role of moral obligation concerning environmental attachment and green motivation on tourists' pro-environmental behavior.Design/methodology/approachData were gathered via a structured questionnaire by 237 local (domestic) tourists of Pakistan. Furthermore, the data were examined by employing SmartPLS.FindingsFindings demonstrate that all three environmental triggers have a positive and significant relationship with environmental attachment and green motivation. Accordingly, environmental attachment and green motivation promote tourists' pro-environmental behavior. Furthermore, the moderating role of moral obligations has also been incorporated in the study. The finding reveals a strong and positive relationship among environmental attachment and tourists' pro-environmental behaviors during high moral obligations. In contrast, moral obligations do not moderate association between green motivation and tourists' pro-environmental behavior. Therefore, competent authorities should facilitate tourists to adopt environmentally friendly practices; which will ultimately promote pro-environmental behavior.Originality/valueThis study provides useful insights regarding the role of tourism in fostering environmental attachment and green motivation that sequentially influence tourist pro-environmental behavior. Secondly, this research has employed moral obligations as a moderator to identify the changes in tourists’ pro-environmental behavior based on individuals' ethical considerations. Hence, the study provides an in-depth insight into tourists' behavior. Lastly, the present research offers effective strategies for the tourism sector and other competent authorities to increase green activities that can embed the importance of the environment among individuals.

Polymodal sensory perception drives settlement and metamorphosis of Ciona larvae

The Earth's oceans brim with an incredible diversity of microscopic lifeforms, including motile planktonic larvae, whose survival critically depends on effective dispersal in the water column and subsequent exploration of the seafloor to identify a suitable settlement site. How their nervous systems mediate sensing of diverse multimodal cues remains enigmatic. Here, we uncover that the tunicate Ciona intestinalis larvae employ ectodermal sensory cells to sense various mechanical and chemical cues. Combining whole-brain imaging and chemogenetics, we demonstrate that stimuli encoded at the periphery are sufficient to drive global brain-state changes to promote or impede both larval attachment and metamorphosis behaviors. The ability of C.intestinalis larvae to leverage polymodal sensory perception to support information coding and chemotactile behaviors may explain how marine larvae make complex decisions despite streamlined nervous systems.

Exploring the mechanisms of calcium carbonate deposition on various substrates with implications for effective anti-scaling material selection

The unexpected scaling phenomena have resulted in significant damages to the oil and gas industries, leading to issues such as heat exchanger failures and pipeline clogging. It is of practical and fundamental importance to understand the scaling mechanisms and develop efficient anti-scaling strategies. However, the underlying surface interaction mechanisms of scalants (e.g., calcite) with various substrates are still not fully understood. In this work, the colloidal probe atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique has been applied to directly quantify the surface forces between calcite particles and different metallic substrates, including carbon steel (CR1018), low alloy steel (4140), stainless steel (SS304) and tungsten carbide, under different water chemistries (i.e., salinity and pH). Measured force profiles revealed that the attractive van der Waals (VDW) interaction contributed to the attachment of the calcium carbonate particles on substrate surfaces, while the repulsive electric double layer (EDL) interactions could inhibit the attachment behaviors. High salinity and acidic pH conditions of aqueous solutions could weaken the EDL repulsion and promote the attachment behavior. The adhesion of calcite particles with CR1018 and 4140 substrates was much stronger than that with SS304 and tungsten carbide substrates. The bulk scaling tests in aqueous solutions from an industrial oil production process showed that much more severe scaling behaviors of calcite was detected on CR1018 and 4140 than those on SS304 and tungsten carbide, which agreed with surface force measurement results. Besides, high salinity and acidic pH can significantly enhance the scaling phenomena. This work provides fundamental insights into the scaling mechanisms of calcite at the nanoscale with practical implications for the selection of suitable anti-scaling materials in petroleum industries.

Biomimetic mineralization of platelet lysate/oxidized dextran cryogel as a macroporous 3D composite scaffold for bone repair

Scaffold development approaches using autologous sources for tissue repair are of great importance in obtaining bio-active/-compatible constructs. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) containing various growth factors and platelet lysate (PL) derived from PRP are autologous products that have the potential to accelerate the tissue repair response by inducing a transient inflammatory event. Considering the regenerative capacity of PRP and PL, PRP/PL-based scaffolds are thought to hold great promise for tissue engineering as a natural source of autologous growth factors and a provider of mechanical support for cells. Here, a bio-mineralized PRP-based scaffold was developed using oxidized dextran (OD) and evaluated for future application in bone tissue engineering. Prepared PL/OD scaffolds were incubated in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 7, 14 and 21 d periods. Mineralized PL/OD scaffolds were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis, porosity and compression tests. SEM and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy analyses revealed mineral accumulation on the PL/OD scaffold as a result of SBF incubation. In vitro cytotoxicity and in vitro hemolysis tests revealed that the scaffolds were non-toxic and hemocompatible. Additionally, human osteoblasts (hOBs) exhibited good attachment and spreading behavior on the scaffolds and maintained their viability throughout the culture period. The alkaline phosphatase activity assay and calcium release results revealed that PL/OD scaffolds preserved the osteogenic properties of hOBs. Overall, findings suggest that mineralized PL/OD scaffold may be a promising scaffold for bone tissue engineering.

Finding a secure base: Exploring children’s attachment behaviors with professional caregivers during the first months of daycare

Recent decades have seen a major rise in demand for daycare services for children aged 0 to 3 years, and this has increased research interest in the child-professional caregiver relationship at daycare centers: How does the relationship between children and their new caregivers develop over time? How long does it take for children to settle in at daycare? What variables can influence the settling-in process? These questions are all of the utmost salience and bear crucial implications for children, parents, and daycare practitioners. In this study, we set out to explore the relationship between infants and their new caregivers over the first two months in daycare, using the Professional Caregiver Attachment Diary. The study involved seven Italian daycare centres and 55 professional caregivers, who observed 148 children (M=17.8 months). The children’s attachment behaviors were assessed at three time-points: when the children started attending daycare (T1), one month later (T2), and two months later (T3). We found that positive attachment behaviors (Secure and Non-Distressed) increased over time, whereas insecure behaviors (Avoidant and Resistant) decreased. Most of the change took place during the first month. Furthermore, children who had attended more daycare more regularly (with fewer days of absence) displayed fewer avoidant behaviors and a more rapid decrease in resistant behaviors than did children who were absent more frequently. The findings suggest that the PCAD may be usefully deployed to observe and analyze children while they are settling into a new daycare setting, especially in relation to their exploratory behaviors.

Associations between externalizing behavior problems and risky sexual behaviors in adolescence: Attachment as a mediator.

Risky sexual behaviors in adolescence are associated with negative health and psychological functioning outcomes. Although the association between behavior problems and risky sexual behaviors is well established, addressing these problems requires understanding the mechanisms that help explain this association. Adolescent attachment, while related to risky sexual behavior, has not been extensively explored as an outcome of childhood externalizing problems. The two objectives of this study were to explore the links between parental and peer attachment and risky sexual behaviors and to examine the mediating effect of attachment on the links between behavior problems and risky sexual behaviors. Five hundred and ninety-eight French-Canadian adolescents (46.2% girls), Mage at T1 = 13.23; Mage at T2 = 14.28; Mage at T3 = 17.35) participated in this longitudinal study. The quality of parental attachment at T2 was significantly and negatively associated with risky sexual behaviors 3 years later, at T3. More specifically, a lower quality parental attachment relationship was associated with having nonexclusive partners as well as with inconsistent condom use. Finally, parental attachment (T2) was a significant mediator between behavior problems (T1) and risky sexual behaviors (T3), but only for younger adolescents. Findings suggest that in addition to behavior problems in adolescence, the quality of parental attachment relationships may help in understanding risky sexual behaviors in adolescence.

Study on adhesion mechanism of fouling organisms on marine steel surface based on inverted microscope

Marine stainless steel is immersed in seawater for a long time, and its surface will inevitably adhere layer by layer to form biofilm, which will lead to microbial corrosion of the material. Therefore, it is necessary to master the microbial adhesion mechanism to better control the occurrence of fouling. However, at present, the observation method is to dye by fluorescence microscope or fix the fouling organisms and then observe them by scanning electron microscope (SEM). These methods all damage the cell activity of algae, and only the results of algae attachment can be observed, which is not conducive to further study of algae attachment mechanism. Based on the inverted microscope platform, the observation of algae attached to the metal surface found that the thinner the substrate of the sample liquid, the clearer the image of algae attached to the metal surface, and further found that the dominant algae in the liquid could complete the attachment and aggregation behavior on the metal surface within 1 hour to 2 hours. The conclusions obtained in this paper will guide the study on the attachment mechanism of fouling organisms on metal surfaces and provide a preliminary basis for the design of prevention and control strategies and time points of fouling organisms.

Exploration of vulnerability factors of digital hoarding behavior among university students and the moderating role of maladaptive perfectionism.

In light of the rapidly evolving digital landscape, there is an increasing need to explore digital hoarding behavior. This need is driven by concerns regarding its intricate psychological foundations and its impact on individuals within our technology-centric society. This research investigates the influence of various factors, including the fear of missing out, emotional attachment, information overload, and decision fatigue, on digital hoarding behaviors among university students in Iran. Additionally, the study examines the moderating role of maladaptive perfectionism in these relationships. The study involved 275 university students (mean age = 21.62 years; standard deviation = 2.28 years; 65.6% female) selected from four universities in Iran. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results revealed that the fear of missing out, emotional attachment, information overload, and decision fatigue significantly predict university students' digital hoarding behavior. Moreover, the findings highlighted the moderating effect of maladaptive perfectionism on the association between emotional attachment and digital hoarding behavior. This suggests that individuals with higher levels of maladaptive perfectionism exhibit amplified digital hoarding tendencies when emotionally attached to their digital data. This study provides a deeper understanding of the relationship between psychological factors and digital hoarding tendencies. These findings have practical implications for educational institutions and mental health professionals, as they can help in developing targeted strategies and interventions to manage digital hoarding behavior in university freshmen and promote healthier digital habits.

Supplemental Material for Disinhibited Attachment Behavior Among Infants Reared at Home: Relations to Maternal Severe Mental Illness and Personality Disorder Symptoms

Supplemental Material for Disinhibited Attachment Behavior Among Infants Reared at Home: Relations to Maternal Severe Mental Illness and Personality Disorder Symptoms

Factors affecting attachment behaviours, cognitive and emotional evaluations on Facebook live streams

Factors affecting attachment behaviours, cognitive and emotional evaluations on Facebook live streams

Factors Affecting Attachment Behaviors, Cognitive and Emotional Evaluations on Facebook Live streams

Factors Affecting Attachment Behaviors, Cognitive and Emotional Evaluations on Facebook Live streams

Attachment patterns of coaches in the youth competitive and elite coaching community

The purpose of this study was to investigate the attachment orientations of coaches within the competitive and elite youth coaching community with the aim of understanding their possible impact on the coach-youth athlete relationship. 107 participants were recruited (level 2 or higher qualified UK based youth coaches) across multiple sports. Data was collected using the Experience in Close Relationships – Relationship Structure questionnaire (ECR-RS) to determine participants’ attachment orientation. Results found that 51% of youth coaches presented as securely attached, while 13% presented as dismissive, 25% as preoccupied, and 11% as fearful-avoidant. This suggests that a large proportion of the coaching community have the potential to struggle with their emotional regulation under emotional stress. Research within sports psychology suggests that to improve an athlete’s wellbeing and to help create positive coach-athlete relationships coaches need to demonstrate secure attachment behaviours (secure base, safe haven, and close proximity). This paper highlights the disparity between these two positions – the expectation of ideal coaching affective behaviour and the innate capability of coaches to deliver such behaviours. This understanding suggests that any intervention aimed at strengthening the affective element within the coach-youth athlete relationship needs to consider the attachment nature of the coaching community.

Effectiveness of a video-feedback intervention to promote positive parenting for foster children

Foster children are at risk for developing disorganized attachment relationships (Van den Dries et al., 2009; Vasileva & Petermann, 2018) and behavioural problems (Goemans et al., 2015; Vanschoonlandt et al., 2012). Video-feedback Intervention to promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline – Foster Care/Adoption (VIPP-FC/A) is an intervention aimed at improving sensitive parenting in order to promote secure attachment relations and reduce behavioural problems. In this study, a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) was used in order to examine the effectiveness of VIPP-FC/A in a Flemish foster care sample ( n = 100), using questionnaires at three measurement moments. The hypothesis was that VIPP-FC/A would increase foster mothers’ sensitive parenting and decrease the externalizing behavioural problems and insecure attachment behaviour of the foster children and parenting stress of the foster mothers. The intervention effects on these four outcome variables were analysed by constructing four multilevel models. After controlling for the baseline measurement, there was no significant main effect of condition for sensitive parenting, externalizing problems, insecure attachment behaviour and parenting stress. There was however a significant effect of condition and age on insecure attachment behaviour: within the group of youngest foster children (under 30 months), children in the intervention group scored lower insecure attachment scores than children in the control group. Additionally, there was a significant effect of condition and type of foster care on externalizing behaviour problems. In the group of children placed in kinship foster care, children in the intervention group had lower external behavior scores than children in the control group.

Construction of chitosan modified cationic lipid droplet emulsions for high-value microalgae harvesting

To reduce the risk of microalgae biomass and environmental contamination, a natural cationic lipid droplet emulsion has been constructed for harvesting microalgae. Using three different microalgae strains (Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus quadricauda and Spirulina platensis), the present work studied the influence of lipid droplet dosage, chitosan concentration, pH on harvesting efficiency, and then the flotation behavior was analyzed by zeta potentials, floc size distribution, algal organic matter component, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectrometer and microscopic observation. The XDLVO theory was used to explain the attachment behavior during the flotation process. The experimental results showed that the maximum harvesting efficiency for two green microalgae strains was over 95% at pH 7, while the optimal dosage and ratio of lipid droplet and chitosan were depended on the microalgae species. The maximum harvesting efficiency for Spirulina platensis was less than 70% since the high salinity of growth medium weakened the bridging and netting ability of chitosan. The mechanism of capturing microalgae by the ballasting agents was mainly physical electrostatic attraction, bridging and netting. In addition, the changes of microalgae components before and after harvesting were less than 5%, indicating this method would not affect the downstream application of microalgae biomass.