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Convergence between attachment classifications and natural reunion behavior among children and parents in a child

Johanna Bick1, Mary Dozier, Erica Perkins

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Delaware, Newark, USA. jbick@psych.udel.edu

Attachment & Human Development
|December 24, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Young children's attachment security in the Strange Situation Procedure aligns with their behavior during natural reunions after child care. Parent responsiveness during reunions also reflects the quality of the parent-child attachment relationship.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Attachment Theory
  • Child Care Research

Background:

  • Attachment security is crucial for child development.
  • The Strange Situation Procedure is a standard assessment of infant-child attachment.
  • Understanding attachment in naturalistic settings is important for validating laboratory findings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the convergence between Strange Situation Procedure attachment classifications and reunion behaviors.
  • To investigate if naturalistic reunions reflect attachment security.
  • To assess the link between parent behavior and child attachment during reunions.

Main Methods:

  • Fifty-eight parent-child dyads participated.
  • Attachment security was assessed using the Strange Situation Procedure.
  • Naturalistic reunions after child care were observed and coded for child and parent behaviors.

Main Results:

  • Attachment security in the Strange Situation Procedure correlated with children's security, avoidance, and delight during natural reunions.
  • Parental responsiveness during natural reunions was associated with children's attachment security.
  • Findings indicate consistency between laboratory and naturalistic attachment assessments.

Conclusions:

  • Natural reunions after child care reflect the quality of parent-child attachment.
  • Laboratory-based attachment assessments are supported by observations in naturalistic settings.
  • Parental responsiveness is a key factor in attachment security during reunions.

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