Related Experiment Videos
Q-sort assessment of attachment security during the preschool years: links from home to school
E K DeMulder1, S Denham, M Schmidt
1Initiatives in Educational Transformation, Graduate School of Education, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia 20110, USA. edemulde@gmu.edu
Insights
Children with secure attachment to mothers and lower family stress showed better preschool social skills. Secure attachment in boys predicted better peer and teacher relationships, while higher family stress correlated with aggression.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Child Psychology
- Attachment Theory
Background:
- Preschoolers' social-emotional development is influenced by early family dynamics.
- Secure-base behavior with primary caregivers forms a foundation for later relationships.
- Family stress can impact a child's emotional regulation and social interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the links between maternal attachment security, family stress, and preschool social relationships.
- To investigate gender differences in the influence of attachment and family stress on child behavior.
- To understand how secure-base behavior at home relates to peer and teacher interactions in preschool.
Main Methods:
- Observational home visits with 94 preschoolers and their mothers.
- Assessment of child-mother attachment security using the Attachment Q-Set.
- Analysis of relationships between family stress, attachment security, and preschool social behaviors.
Main Results:
- Lower family stress was associated with more secure child-mother attachment.
- Insecure attachment to mothers predicted increased anger-aggression in both genders.
- For boys, higher family stress related to greater anger-aggression and lower social competence.
- Secure attachment to mothers predicted secure attachment to teachers and peer popularity in boys.
Conclusions:
- Secure attachment and low family stress support positive social development in preschoolers.
- Attachment security and family environment significantly shape children's preschool social competence and behavior.
- Findings highlight the importance of secure caregiver relationships and supportive home environments for boys' social success.
Abstract:
This study investigated relations among preschoolers' secure-base behavior with mother at home, stressful family conditions, and qualities of developing relationships with peers and teachers in preschool. Preschool-age children (N = 94; 51 boys and 43 girls) and their mothers were observed during multiple home visits, and their security of attachment was assessed with the Attachment Q-Set. Children in families with lower levels of stress had more secure attachment relationships with mothers. Both boys and girls who were less securely attached to their mothers expressed significantly more anger-aggression in preschool. For boys, higher levels of family stress were also significantly related to anger-aggression and to social competence in preschool. In addition, boys who were more securely attached to their mothers were more securely attached to their preschool teachers and were more popular with peers in preschool.