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Attachment to mother/attachment to father: a meta-analysis
N A Fox1, N L Kimmerly, W D Schafer
1Institute for Child Study, University of Maryland, College Park 20742.
Child Development
|February 1, 1991
Summary
Infant attachment security to a caregiver is linked to attachment security with the other parent. This meta-analysis questions the Strange Situation
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Attachment Theory
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Attachment theory posits that infant Strange Situation classifications reflect caregiver relationship quality.
- Concordance of infant attachment classifications with both mother and father is considered supporting evidence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To meta-analyze studies examining infant attachment concordance between mother and father.
- To investigate if attachment security and insecurity classifications are consistent across both parents.
Main Methods:
- Meta-analysis of 11 studies on mother/father infant attachment concordance.
- Examination of security, insecurity types (avoidant/resistant), and secure subcategories (B1B2/B3B4).
Main Results:
- Attachment security to one parent was dependent on security to the other.
- Insecurity type (avoidant/resistant) classification was consistent across parents.
- Secure attachment subcategory classifications were also consistent between parents.
Conclusions:
- Infant attachment classifications in the Strange Situation show high concordance between mother and father.
- Findings suggest potential influences of consistent parenting styles or infant temperament on attachment classifications.
- The meaning and interpretation of Strange Situation classifications warrant further investigation.