Maternal secure base support and preschoolers' secure base behavior in natural environments
Germán Posada1, Garene Kaloustian, Melissa K Richmond
1Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. gposada@purdue.edu
Attachment & Human Development
|December 1, 2007
Summary
Maternal secure base support significantly influences preschoolers' secure-base behavior organization. This research highlights the importance of caregiving in early childhood development and attachment theory.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Attachment Theory
- Childhood Social Development
Background:
- Attachment theory emphasizes concurrent caregiving's role in child security.
- Empirical data on attachment constructs beyond infancy is limited.
- Research is needed across diverse contexts and developmental stages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between maternal secure base support and child secure base behavior in preschoolers.
- To investigate these dynamics in naturalistic settings over extended periods.
- To provide developmentally appropriate insights into attachment theory.
Main Methods:
- Two studies involving 90 middle-class mother-preschooler dyads (ages 36-52 months).
- Naturalistic observations in home and playground settings.
- Maternal Behavior for Preschoolers Q-Set and Attachment Q-Set were utilized.
Main Results:
- A significant positive correlation was found between maternal secure base support and child secure base behavior organization (r = .31 in Study 1, r = .49 in Study 2).
- Findings demonstrate a clear link between specific caregiving behaviors and child attachment behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Maternal secure base support is crucial for the development of secure-base behavior in preschoolers.
- The findings underscore the importance of considering caregiving domains and assessment contexts in attachment research.
- Results have significant implications for refining and applying attachment theory in early childhood.
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