Attachment behavior in children

A conceptualization of maternal attachment during
preadolescence was proposed, and a self-report instrument
designed to measure preadolescents' maternal attachment
style was developed. It was hypothesized that
preadolescents' attachment style is related to their social
adjustment with peers. Subjects were 229 third through
seventh graders. Results indicated that avoidant
preadolescent girls were seen by peers as demonstrating
externalizing behaviors with peers. Also, the more avoidant
the girls were, the more enemies they had. Preoccupied
preadolescent boys were viewed by peers as exhibiting
internalizing behaviors: These boys were seen as victimized,
immature, depressed, fearful, and physically weak. In
contrast, avoidant boys were perceived as aggressive,
dishonest, and physically strong.

The current study examined the effects of kangaroo care on breastfeeding
practices, infant stress reactivity, and biobehavioral measures of mother-infant bonding
across the first 3 months postpartum. Additionally, the role of breastfeeding in infant
cortical maturation in the frontal lobe was examined. Thirty two mother-infant dyads
participated in the current study; 16 mother-infant dyads were randomly assigned to the
kangaroo care group and 17 mother-infant dyads were assigned to the control group.
Mothers in the kangaroo care group received training on proper kangaroo care procedures
by a trained administrator during the first 1-2 weeks postpartum. Mothers in the kangaroo
care group were asked to use the kangaroo care procedure for 1 hour per day for 6 weeks. Maternal perceptions of fetal attachment, mood, feeding intentions, and urinary
oxytocin measurements were assessed prenatally. At a newborn visit, infant
neurobehavioral functioning and urinary oxytocin measurements were assessed. Maternal
mood and feeding practices were also assessed at the newborn visit. At 3 months
postpartum, mother-infant dyads were assessed on urinary oxytocin measurements.
Mother-infant dyads were recorded during a play session and feeding session. Infant
baseline EEG recordings were taken over a 5 minute period. Infant cortisol
measurements were collected from infant saliva before and after a mild behavioral
stressor, an infant arm restraint procedure. Maternal perceptions of postpartum bonding,
mood, infant temperament, and feeding practices were also assessed. Results indicate that
kangaroo care produced medium to large effects on cortisol reactivity, dyadic bonding,
and breastfeeding practices if kangaroo care was practiced for the recommended amount
of time. Kangaroo care produced medium to large effects on oxytocin levels in motherinfant
dyads regardless of use. Cortical measures of infant frontal activity indicated that
all infants in the samples displayed functional maturity of the frontal lobe. Kangaroo care
can be used a viable, low-cost tactile procedure that can be implemented after birth to aid
in breastfeeding practices, mother-infant bonding, and lower infant stress reactivity.
Infants in the study who received at least one breastfeeding session displayed advanced
patterns of frontal activation. Further study is needed to determine if peripheral oxytocin
measurements are 1) reliable and 2) are indicative of dyadic bonding behaviors.

The purpose of this study was to explore relations between maternal childrearing styles and children's coping styles during mother-child conflict. Mothers reported on six parenting style dimensions: coercive control, overprotective control, emotional control, constructive control, responsiveness, and positive interaction. Children (mean age 12.01 years) reported on seven dimensions of coping during conflict with their mothers: idealization of parent, endorsement of submission, endorsement of aggression, self-blame, self-efficacy, anger reaction, and fear reaction. Few relations between the maternal variables and the child variables were significant, but those that were made sense. For example, positive interaction with the mother predicted low endorsement of aggression toward her, and maternal emotional control predicted self-blaming coping. Further research should examine whether the effects of maternal styles on children's behavior problems (e.g., aggression, depression) are mediated by children's coping styles.

The relationship between object-person permanence and
quality of attachment was assessed in 13 month old infants
under equivalent task conditions. Both familiar/salient
and unfamiliar/neutral objects and persons were hidden behind
large curtains. Contrary to previous findings securely
attached infants did not perform differently than insecurely
attached babies on the object and person permanence
scales. Regardless of security of attachment, babies
searched at a higher level for both the familiar/salient
person and object than for the unfamiliar/neutral person
and object. Infants were most likely to search for the
mother and least likely to search for the experimenter.
Results suggest that the motivational salience of target
persons and objects plays an important role in performance
on object and person permanence tests and thus indicate a
need for more precision in measurement in order to
delineate any existing relationship between the cognitive
and affective domains in infancy.

This thesis examined the possibility of meaningful associations between children's attachment styles in middle childhood and children's perceptions of the parent. Participants were 199 students (94 males, 105 females) in grades three through eight (mean age = 11.03 years) from a Florida university school. The children were administered self-report measures and peer-report nomination measures. Five attachment coping strategies (preoccupied, indecisive, avoidant, coercive, and caregiving) and four aspects of perceived maternal behavior (reliable support, overprotection, harassment, and fear induction) were assessed and numerous and meaningful associations were found. For example, perceived maternal overprotection was positively associated with preoccupied coping. Significant associations were also found between our avoidant, coercive, indecisive, and caregiving coping measures and perceived maternal reliable support, harassment, and fear induction. Our numerous and significant findings lend further support for the usefulness and value of our concurrent correlational self-report measures and to justify future longitudinal research to compare alternative models.

Participants were 199 children (105 females) in grades three through eight (mean age = 11.03 years). Five attachment coping strategies were assessed (preoccupied, avoidant, indecisive, coercive, and caregiving), and four aspects of perceived maternal behavior were assessed (reliable support, harassment, overprotection, and fear induction). Numerous meaningful associations were found between the attachment measures and the perceived parenting measures. For instance, perceived maternal overprotectiveness was significantly related to preoccupied and indecisive coping strategies, whereas perceived maternal harassment, fear induction, and reliable support were related in various ways to avoidant, indecisive, coercive, and caregiving attachment coping strategies. In general, the associations found between the perceived parenting measures and the attachment measures support the construct validity of the self-report measures of attachment and confirm that self-report measures are a fruitful way to assess attachment style in middle childhood.

This study examined influences of perceived parental behaviors and attachment styles on change over time in preadolescents' feelings of self-worth. In each of two successive years, four measures of perceived parental behavior (harassment, over-protectiveness, monitoring, and affectionate contact), two measures of attachment style (preoccupied coping and avoidant coping), and one measure of global self-worth were collected from a sample of 106 children ( M age = 11.1 years in Year 1). Results support the idea that children's perceptions of their parents and attachment styles influence, both individually and jointly, their subsequent feelings of self-worth. Perceived parental monitoring and perceived affectionate contact predicted increases in self-esteem, whereas perceived parental harassment predicted decreases in feelings of self-worth over time. Children's attachment styles also predicted change in global self-worth and in fact mediated the relations between perceived parenting practices and subsequent feelings of self worth.

Attachment, a vital part of human life, is defined as a strong emotional bond with a caregiver that is formed through repetitions of behaviors that children adjust to accordingly. One forms a view on relationships that transfers from parents to peers as a result of their internal working model (IWM). A secure attachment can form a healthy model while an insecure one may form an unhealthy, negative model. The present study assesses preadolescents' attachment styles toward their friends and examines whether their attachment styles interact with peers' attachment styles to predict liking of the peers and aggression toward the peers.