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Pathways to earned-security: the role of alternative support figures
Rachel Saunders1, Deborah Jacobvitz, Maria Zaccagnino
1The University of Texas at Austin, USA. rec0002@gmail.com
Attachment & Human Development
|July 2, 2011
Summary
Mothers with difficult childhoods can achieve earned-security in adulthood. This security, linked to better emotional support and therapy experiences, helps them form secure infant attachments.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Attachment Theory
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Earned-security describes individuals with early negative relationship histories who develop secure attachment later.
- Understanding factors contributing to earned-security is crucial for interventions.
- Attachment security in mothers impacts infant development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore relationship experiences associated with earned-security in mothers.
- To identify factors that facilitate the development of earned-security.
- To examine the link between earned-security and maternal-infant attachment.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study with 121 mothers expecting their first child.
- Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) to assess earned-security and identify support figures.
- Self-report measures for depressive symptoms, therapy experiences, and Strange Situation procedure for infant attachment.
Main Results:
- Earned-secure mothers reported higher emotional support from alternative figures.
- Earned-secure mothers spent more time in therapy compared to insecure and continuous-secure mothers.
- Earned-secure mothers showed higher rates of secure infant attachment than insecure mothers, even after controlling for depression.
Conclusions:
- Emotional support from alternative figures and engagement in therapy are associated with earned-security.
- Earned-security in mothers is linked to the formation of secure infant attachments.
- These findings highlight the potential for positive relational development despite adverse early experiences.
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