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Testing a maternal attachment model of behavior problems in early childhood

Kathleen McCartney1, Margaret Tresch Owen, Cathryn L Booth

  • 1Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. kathleen_mccartney@harvard.edu

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines
|April 2, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Maternal attachment insecurity is linked to early childhood behavior problems. This study found that insecure attachment predicted internalizing and externalizing issues in children, confirmed by both mothers and caregivers.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Child Psychiatry
  • Attachment Theory

Background:

  • Investigated the maternal attachment model of behavior problems in early childhood.
  • Utilized Phase I data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care (N=1,364 children).
  • Prospective study followed children from birth through sixth grade.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test the maternal attachment model of behavior problems in early childhood.
  • To examine the association between attachment security and child behavior problems.
  • To assess the predictive power of attachment on internalizing and externalizing behaviors.

Main Methods:

  • Regressed mothers' and caregivers' ratings of children's behavior problems (age 3) on 15 predictors.
  • Included security and disorganization scores from 15, 24, and 36 months.
  • Employed hierarchical and logistical modeling.

Main Results:

  • Mother-child attachment security (24 months) best predicted behavior problems, especially above-average levels.
  • Insecurity (36-month Strange Situation) predicted internalizing problems (boys/girls) and externalizing problems (boys).
  • Maternal depressive symptoms predicted behavior problems.

Conclusions:

  • Meaningful associations exist between attachment insecurity and behavior problems.
  • These associations are validated by both maternal and caregiver assessments.
  • Attachment security is a significant factor in early childhood behavioral development.
Abstract

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