Mother Attachment Research Articles

Child–Mother Attachment Security and Child Characteristics as Joint Contributors to Young Children's Coping in a Challenging Situation

Moderate challenges provide opportunities for young children to develop coping skills, yet little is known about factors related to individual differences in early coping. This study investigated child–mother attachment security (9‐point rating) assessed via a modified Strange Situation procedure, child expressive language, and child social fearfulness as contributors to coping responses among 33‐month‐old children (N = 128, 66 girls) following receipt of an empty gift box. Associations between child–mother attachment security and child coping were moderated by child characteristics. As hypothesized, greater attachment security was associated with more action towards the stressor (i.e. vocalizing about the empty box and searching for the missing gift), but only for children high on social fearfulness. Further, greater attachment security was associated with seeking more physical proximity to mothers for children low on expressive language and less physical proximity for children high on expressive language. Lastly, greater attachment security was related to more self‐distraction for children with moderate to high expressive language. Results are discussed in terms of child–mother attachment security as a psychological resource constructed over time, which the child may draw upon when confronted with a moderate non‐attachment‐related stressor. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Early interpersonal neurobiological assessment of attachment and autistic spectrum disorders.

There is now a strong if not urgent call in both the attachment and autism literatures for updated, research informed, clinically relevant interventions that can more effectively assess the mother infant dyad during early periods of brain plasticity. In this contribution I describe my work in regulation theory, an overarching interpersonal neurobiological model of the development, psychopathogenesis, and treatment of the early forming subjective self system. The theory models the psychoneurobiological mechanisms by which early rapid, spontaneous and thereby implicit emotionally laden attachment communications indelibly impact the experience-dependent maturation of the right brain, the “emotional brain.” Reciprocal right-lateralized visual-facial, auditory-prosodic, and tactile–gestural non-verbal communications lie at the psychobiological core of the emotional attachment bond between the infant and primary caregiver. These affective communications can in turn be interactively regulated by the primary caregiver, thereby expanding the infant’s developing right brain regulatory systems. Regulated and dysregulated bodily based communications can be assessed in order to determine the ongoing status of both the infant’s emotional and social development as well as the quality and efficiency of the infant–mother attachment relationship. I then apply the model to the assessment of early stages of autism. Developmental neurobiological research documents significant alterations of the early developing right brain in autistic infants and toddlers, as well profound attachment failures and intersubjective deficits in autistic infant–mother dyads. Throughout I offer implications of the theory for clinical assessment models. This work suggests that recent knowledge of the social and emotional functions of the early developing right brain may not only bridge the attachment and autism worlds, but facilitate more effective attachment and autism models of early intervention.

Very extensive nonmaternal care predicts mother-infant attachment disorganization: Convergent evidence from two samples.

We examined whether a maximum threshold of time spent in nonmaternal care exists, beyond which infants have an increased risk of forming a disorganized infant-mother attachment. The hours per week infants spent in nonmaternal care at 7-8 months were examined as a continuous measure and as a dichotomous threshold (over 40, 50 and 60 hr/week) to predict infant disorganization at 12-15 months. Two different samples (Austin and NICHD) were used to replicate findings and control for critical covariates: mothers' unresolved status and frightening behavior (assessed in the Austin sample, N = 125), quality of nonmaternal caregiving (assessed in the NICHD sample, N = 1,135), and family income and infant temperament (assessed in both samples). Only very extensive hours of nonmaternal care (over 60 hr/week) and mothers' frightening behavior independently predicted attachment disorganization. A polynomial logistic regression performed on the larger NICHD sample indicated that the risk of disorganized attachment exponentially increased after exceeding 60 hr/week. In addition, very extensive hours of nonmaternal care only predicted attachment disorganization after age 6 months (not prior). Findings suggest that during a sensitive period of attachment formation, infants who spend more than 60 hr/week in nonmaternal care may be at an increased risk of forming a disorganized attachment.

Effects of maternal depressive symptomatology during pregnancy and the postpartum period on infant–mother attachment

Postnatal depression has demonstrated long-term consequences on child cognitive and emotional development; however, the link between maternal and child pathology has not been clearly identified. We conducted a prospective study using self-rating questionnaires to clarify the association between bonding disorder and maternal mood during pregnancy and after childbirth. A total of 389 women participated in this study and completed questionnaires. Participants were asked to complete the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale four times during pregnancy and the postpartum period. We found statistically significant weak to moderate correlations (r = 0.14-0.39) between the EPDS and Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale scores at each testing period. Women who experienced low mood tended to have stronger bonding disorder. Furthermore, the effectiveness of attachment between the mother and child was closely related to the mood of the mother as measured by the EPDS. We observed different patterns of bonding and maternal mood. Distinct subtypes regarding maternal mood and formation of mother-to-infant attachment suggests that analysis of bonding disorder should be performed considering the course of maternal depressive symptoms.

Preschool attachment, self-esteem and the development of preadolescent anxiety and depressive symptoms

This study examined the longitudinal association between preschool attachment patterns, the development of anxiety and depression at preadolescence and the mediational role of self-esteem. Child–mother attachment classifications of 68 children (33 girls) were assessed between 3–4 years of age (M = 3.7 years, SD = 4.4 months) using the Separation-Reunion Procedure. At age 11–12 (M = 11.7 years, SD = 4.3 months), anxiety and depressive symptoms (Dominic Interactive Questionnaire), and self-esteem (Self-Perception Profile for Children) were also evaluated. Preadolescents who had shown disorganized attachment at preschool age scored higher on both anxiety and depression and lower on self-esteem than those who had shown secure and insecure-organized attachment strategies. Self-esteem was a partial mediator of the association between preschool disorganization and symptoms of preadolescent depression, but the model was not supported for anxiety. These findings support the idea that early attachment and self-esteem should be central themes in prevention programs with young children.

RETRACTED: Attachment Styles, Pain, and the Consumption of Analgesics During Labor: A Prospective Observational Study

Individuals with less secure attachment styles have been shown to experience more pain than people with more secure attachment styles; however, attachment styles have not yet been examined in the context of labor pain and analgesic consumption. The purpose of this prospective observational study was to assess the influence of the mother's attachment style on the perception of labor pain, as assessed by a visual analog scale and analgesic consumption. Eighty-one pregnant women with a mean age of 32years (standard deviation =5.1) were assessed during the third trimester of pregnancy and during labor. The physical predictors of labor pain were recorded, and the adult attachment style was assessed with the Adult Attachment Scale-Revised. For labor analgesia, a low dose of patient-controlled epidural analgesia protocol (ropivacaine .6mg/mL plus sufentanil .5μg/mL) was used. Women with a secure attachment style reported significantly less labor pain (P<.001) and a significantly lower analgesic consumption during labor (P<.001) than insecurely attached women. These findings suggest that women's attachment style was associated with labor pain and analgesic consumption and support the relevance of the attachment theory as a promising conceptual framework for understanding labor pain. This study showed that women with an insecure attachment style were more likely to report higher pain before patient-controlled epidural analgesia and higher analgesic consumption and to request supplemental analgesia during labor. The assessment of adult attachment has the potential to identify women at high risk of poorly coping with pain during childbirth.

Transmission of Attachment at Preschool-Age: The Mediating Role of Mother- Child Conversation Styles

Objective: Parents initiate conversations with their preschoolers about everyday experiences in which they share thoughts, feelings, and intentions. The ability to efficiently treat attachment relevant-information and organize attachment behavior beyond infancy is likely to be scaffolded by the parent in the context of parent-child discourse. The objective of this study was to examine mother-child conversation styles as a function of child attachment and test the the role of mother-child conversation as a mediator in the transmission of attachment from mother to child. Methods: The sample included 111 dyads of mothers and their preschool children (3-5 years of age). Child attachment was assessed using the Preschool Attachment Coding System. Mothers’ attachment state of mind was coded using the Adult Attachment Projective. Mother-child conversation styles were assessed during a 10-minute snack time. Results: Analyses indicated a significant correspondence between maternal and child attachment classifications. Moreover, autonomous mothers and secure children were more inclined to integrate affective information during verbal exchanges, while dyads involved in insecure avoidant, ambivalent, or disorganized relationships were more inclined to minimize, exaggerate, or be overwhelmed with affective information. Finally, children’s ability to integrate affective information mediated the link between mother and child attachment security. Conclusion: Overall, results emphasize the importance of the quality of mother-child conversation for the development of internal working models of child attachment during the preschool period. In addition, results are also informative for the development of attachment-based intervention for parents and their preschoolers.

The effects of prenatal care-based group art therapy on the psychological well-being and mother-fetal attachment of unwed mothers at a shelter facility

The effects of prenatal care-based group art therapy on the psychological well-being and mother-fetal attachment of unwed mothers at a shelter facility

The Effect of Planned Baby Care Education Given to Primiparous Mothers on Maternal Attachment and Self-Confidence Levels

This study was conducted to examine the effect of planned baby care education on maternal attachment and self-confidence levels in primiparous mothers. The research was carried out using a pre-test, post-test, quasi-experimental design with a control group. In the intervention group, mothers were given planned baby care education and an education booklet. Both the median maternal attachment score and the mean self-confidence score increased by statistically significant levels in the intervention group, whereas there were no significant differences in the control group. It is recommended that primiparous mothers in particular should receive education regarding baby care.

HUBUNGAN ANTARA KELEKATAN ANAK PADA IBU DENGAN KEMAMPUAN SOSIALISASI ANAK USIA 4-5 TAHUN (STUDI PADA RA SINAR PELANGI DAN RA AL IMAN KECAMATAN GUNUNGPATI, SEMARANG)

Social skill is a willingness to learn the standards, values??, and behavior expected for a particular culture or society. Attachment formed between children in mothers affects their social skills. Children attachment in mothers is also associated with social behavior of them later in life. Difficulty in socializing will greatly influence the children so that it will hamper them to achieve success in the future. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a relationship between maternal attachments to the children's social skills in children aged 4-5 years. This study used correlational approach, which involved 50 children, 4-5 years old, at RA Sinar Pelangi and RA Al Iman Gunungpati district. The data was collected by using questionnaires. Based on the analysis of the regression calculation results, researcher obtained significance of 0.000 less than p = 0.05 and t = 10.363 which showed positive relationship between secure attachment in mothers with children social skills. In anxious attachment, researcher obtained significance of 0.002 less than p = 0.05 and t = -3.209 which showed negative relationship between anxious attachment in mothers with children social skills, and researcher also obtained significance of 0.000 less than p = 0.05 and t = -7.226 in rejection attachment which showed negative relationship between rejection attachment in mothers with children social skills. It can be concluded that there is a relationship between 4-5 years children attachment in mothers with their social skills in RA Sinar Pelangi and RA Al Iman Gunungpati District, Semarang. For parents, especially mothers, as the people who are closest to the child's mother is expected to provide a consistent and responsive care that secure attachment is formed so that someday may form children who has good social skills because social skills will greatly influence the children to achieve success in the future.

Piecing together the sensitivity construct: ethology and cross-cultural research

Although Ainsworth and Bowlby’s perspective on attachment relationships has instinctive underpinnings, they also recognized variability in the ways caregiving is implemented in different ecologies. Ainsworth’s naturalistic observations in two different societies provided early evidence about the development of infant–mother attachment, differences in the quality of attachment relationships, and the role of maternal care in attachment development. Further, her research demonstrated the importance of an ethological approach for research within and across cultures. Employing similar concepts and methods, my collaborators and I have tested and expanded Bowlby’s and Ainsworth’s ideas about the generality of the sensitivity construct and sensitivity-security link. In our research, ethological observations have been key to elaborating the quality of care construct and studying child–mother attachment relationships in different cultures, social contexts, and ages.

Individual dispositions as precursors of differences in attachment quality: why maternal sensitivity is nevertheless important

This paper explores the interplay of maternal sensitivity (or, more generally, the quality of the caregiving social environment) and infant individual dispositions in predicting infant–mother attachment. After a brief theoretical introduction, the focus turns to studies conducted during the 1980s that predicted attachment security vs. insecurity at 12 months from newborns’ ability to regulate orientation and arousal. A re-analysis of two longitudinal studies, formerly coded only with the ABC system, subsequently revealed that disorganized (vs. organized) attachment was predictable from newborns’ regulatory abilities, whereas secure (vs. insecure) attachment was predictable from the quality of maternal care. This suggested that the two dichotomies represented distinct dimensions and that – in low risk samples – disorganized SSP behavior may be associated with infant behavioral dispositions. More recent attempts to predict disorganized attachment from infant genetic (as opposed to newborn behavioral) dispositions yielded inconsistent results when only main effects models were examined. A set of subsequent studies examining the interplay of genetic and caregiving influences in the prediction of disorganized attachment suggested that maternal sensitivity is of particular importance in cases of genetic risk.

자아특성과 대인관계특성에 따른 학교적응이 높은 저소득층 아동의 판별분석

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of discriminating a high level of school adjustment in low-income school-aged children using interpersonal-related variables(mother attachment, peer attachment) and self-related variables(ego-resiliency, self-control). The subjects were 335 children in fourth, fifth and sixth grades in 4 elementary schools in Daegu. Mean(SD), t-test, and stepwise discriminant analysis were used for data analysis. Base on the results of the discriminant analysis, the discriminant functions suggested that the best predictor for distinguishing between a high level of school adjustment in low-income school-aged children and a low level of school adjustment was ego-resiliency. Self-control, mother attachment and peer attachment reliably separated the groups. And using ego-resiliency, self-control, mother attachment and peer attachment as predictors, the discriminant analysis correctly classified 92.3% of the participants.

Parental Attachment, Peer Attachment, and Delinquency among Adolescents in Selangor, Malaysia

This study aimed to investigate the relationships between parental attachment, peer attachment and delinquency among adolescents. 480 adolescents aged 13-17 were randomly selected from four secondary schools in Malaysia. The revised version of the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA) (Armsden & Greenberg, 1987) and the Self-report Delinquency Scale (Mak, 1993) were used in this study. The results revealed significant negative relationship between father and mother attachment with adolescents’ delinquency and significant positive relationship between peer attachments with adolescents’ delinquency. Statistically significant differences were obtained for males and females adolescents where males are more delinquent than females. Multiple regression analysis showed that gender is the strongest predictors for adolescents’ delinquency, followed by peer attachment, mother attachment and father attachment. Practical recommendation and implementation are discussed where attachment could be included as a target for implementing intervention.

Temperamental precursors of infant attachment with mothers and fathers

The degree to which parent sensitivity and infant temperament distinguish attachment classification was examined. Multilevel modeling was used to assess the effect of parent sensitivity and infant temperament on infant–mother and infant–father attachment. Data were collected from mothers, fathers, and their infants (N=135) when the infant was 3-, 5-, 7-, 12-, and 14-months old. Temperament was measured using the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised (Gartstein & Rothbart, 2003); parent sensitivity was coded during the Still Face Paradigm (Tronick, Als, Adamson, Wise, & Brazelton, 1978); attachment was coded using the Strange Situation (Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978). Results indicate that mothers and fathers were less sensitive with insecure-avoidant infants. Whereas only one difference was found for infant–mother attachment groups and temperament, five significant differences emerged for infant–father attachment groups, with the majority involving insecure-ambivalent attachment. Infants classified as ambivalent with fathers were higher in perceptual sensitivity and cuddliness and these infants also showed a greater increase in low-intensity pleasure over time compared with other infants. Results indicate the importance of both parent sensitivity and infant temperament, though operating in somewhat different ways, in the development of the infant–mother and infant–father attachment relationship.

Age Differences in Children’s Autobiographical Fact Memory, Interpretation Memory and Relationship with Mother Attachment

Age Differences in Children’s Autobiographical Fact Memory, Interpretation Memory and Relationship with Mother Attachment

Hubungan Antara Dukungan Sosial Dan Kualitas Attachment Pada Ibu Dengan Resiliensi Remaja Quasi Broken Home Di SMP Negeri 3 Babat

Abstract, This study aimed to determine the correlation between social support and quality of attachment in mothers with adolescent resilience quasi broken home in SMP Negeri 3 Babat. The subjects were students of SMP Negeri 3 Babat many as 107 people. Sampling using purposive sampling. Data collection instrument used in this study is resilience scale, the scale of social support and quality of attachment scale that refers to making according to Likert scale. Results of data analysis using regression. Anareg get results F = 325.846 with p = 0.00 (p &lt;0,01). Variables of social support and quality of attachment to mother simultaneously and significantly correlated with resilience. Partially, found the value of t Regression between social support with resilience = 10 528, and partial r = 0.718, p = 0.00 (p &lt;0.01), this means that there is a significant positive relationship between social support with resilience. Partial test also found the value of the variable t Regression between attachment quality with resilience = 9.380, and partial r = 0.677, p = 0.000 (p &lt;0.01), this means that there is a significant positive relationship between quality of attachment with resilience. The results showed that the third hypothesis is accepted. Effective contribution of social support variables and quality of attachment towards resilience is at 86.2% (R square =0.862). Keywords: Social Support, Quality of Attachment to Mother, Adolescent Resilience Quasi Broken Home in SMP Negeri 3 Babat.

Mediating Effects of Parent–Child Relationships and Body Image in the Prediction of Internalizing Symptoms in Urban Youth

Youth are faced with many stressful interpersonal, contextual, and identify development related challenges that contribute to the increased risk of negative outcomes during adolescence. The current study examined two important factors related to youth's development and well-being: parent-child attachment and negative body image. Specifically, the current study examined body image as one mechanism responsible for the effect that mother and father attachment has on internalizing symptoms in a sample of low-income, ethnic minority youth. Additionally, differences across gender and ethnic/racial groups were examined. Participants included 140 (71 % female) ages 10-16 at baseline recruited from urban public schools in Chicago with high percentages of low-income students. The current sample was ethnically diverse (41 % African American, 30 % Latino, 16 % European American, 6 % Biracial, 6 % Asian, and 1 % other). Participants completed measures of their relationships with their mothers and fathers, negative body image, and internalizing symptoms across two periods of time separated by approximately 1 year. Results showed that body image mediated the relation between both mother and father attachment and internalizing symptoms. These results were further moderated by race/ethnicity, but not by sex. For African American participants, mother attachment was related to internalizing symptoms through negative body image while for Latinos, paternal attachment was related to internalizing symptoms through negative body image. Although maternal attachment had direct effects on internalizing symptoms for Latinos, negative body image did not mediate this relationship. These results support an integrative model in which interpersonal risk lays the foundation for the development of cognitive risk, which in turn leads to internalizing symptoms for urban youth.

Early Temperament and Attachment Security with Mothers and Fathers as Predictors of Toddler Compliance and Noncompliance

This longitudinal study (n = 106) examined associations between temperament, attachment, and styles of compliance and noncompliance. Infant negative temperamental reactivity was reported by mothers at 3, 5 and 7 months. Infant attachment was assessed (Strange Situation) at 12 (mothers) and 14 months (fathers). Toddlers' styles of compliance/noncompliance were measured using two laboratory contexts (clean‐up/delay) at 20 months. Results indicated that temperament and attachment predicted toddler behaviour. Toddlers who were secure with mothers and low in temperamental negative reactivity showed more committed compliance than those who were insecure and low in negative reactivity or secure and high in negative reactivity. In addition, interactions revealed that relations between infant–mother attachment and defiance depended on infant–father attachment security, temperament and context. Findings highlight the differential and complex roles of temperament and attachment as potential precursors of later social competence. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

어머니의 영아에 대한 애착 및 양육효능감이 영아-어머니의 상호작용에 미치는 영향

본 연구의 목적은 어머니의 영아에 대한 애착과 양육효능감이 영아-어머니의 상호작용에 미치는 영향을 알아보는 것이다. 이를 위해 전라북도 G시의 어린이집 영아와 영아의 어머니 180명을 대상으로 연구를 실시하였다. 연구결과는 첫째, 어머니의 영아에 대한 애착, 양육효능감, 영아-어머니 상호작용은 보통이상으로 나타났다. 둘째, 어머니의 영아에 대한 애착과 영아-어머니 상호작용은 정적상관이 나타났다. 특히 민감한 반응과 정적상관이 가장 높게 나타났다. 반면 냉담은 영아-어머니 상호작용 전체와 부적상관이 나타났다. 셋째, 어머니의 양육효능감과 영아-어머니 상호작용은 정적상관이 나타났으며 특히 민감한 반응과 정적상관이 가장 높게 나타났다. 의사소통, 전반적 양육효능감은 민감한 반응과 정적상관이 존재하였다. 교육과 통제는 양육자의 언어적 모델링과, 정적상관이 가장 높게 나타났다. 넷째, 영아-어머니 상호작용에 미치는 요인은 어머니 양육효능감의 의사소통, 통제, 전반적 양육효능감이었으며, 어머니의 영아에 대한 애착에서는 접촉추구, 결속이 정적인 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. This study was designed to examine the effect of maternal attachment of infant and parenting efficacy on infant-mother's interaction. The subject were 180 infant and their mother who were early childhood education service in G city. Data analysed with Pearson correlation, regression. The results were as follows. First, there were showed tendency of normal level that mother's attachment and parenting efficacy to infant, infant-mother's interactions. Second, there were significant positive relationships between the mother's attachment of infant and infant-mother's interactions. Third, there were significant positive relationships between the mother's parenting efficacy and infant-mother's interactions. Fourth, the mother's attachment of infant and parenting efficacy has effect on the infant-mother's interactions.