Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 17, 2026

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
07:56

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure

Published on: September 19, 2019

Security of attachment in children and adolescents-An Indian experience

Priya Kayastha1, Uma Hirisave, Gitanjali Natarajan

  • 1Department of Mental Health and Social Psychology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Deemed University, Hosur Road, Bangalore 560 029, India.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry
|October 12, 2012
PubMed

Insights

This study explored child-parent attachment security in Indian middle childhood and adolescence. Findings indicate secure attachment, with normal children showing better security than clinical groups, validating a new assessment tool.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Child Psychology
  • Attachment Theory

Background:

  • Attachment security is crucial for caregiver-child relationships.
  • Research on attachment security in Indian children is limited, especially in middle childhood.
  • This study investigates attachment security in Indian middle childhood and adolescence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine security of attachment in middle childhood and adolescence in an Indian context.
  • To assess the applicability of the Security Scale (Kerns et al., 2000) in India.
  • To compare attachment security between normal and clinical groups of children.

Main Methods:

  • Three cross-sectional studies were conducted.
  • Participants included school-going children and adolescents from normal and clinical groups.
  • The Security Scale developed by Kerns et al. (2000) was used for data collection.

Main Results:

  • Studies I and II found secure attachment between children/adolescents and their parents.
  • Study III revealed that normal children exhibited better security of attachment compared to the clinical group.
  • The Security Scale demonstrated applicability in the Indian setting.

Conclusions:

  • The Security Scale is a viable tool for assessing attachment security in Indian children and adolescents.
  • Further research is recommended for the standardization and clinical utility of the scale in India.
  • Secure attachment is prevalent, but clinical conditions may impact it negatively.
Abstract

More Related Videos

The Other End of the Leash: An Experimental Test to Analyze How Owners Interact with Their Pet Dogs08:59

The Other End of the Leash: An Experimental Test to Analyze How Owners Interact with Their Pet Dogs

Published on: October 13, 2017

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents06:15

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents

Published on: July 10, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Attachment01:20

Attachment

Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that physical...
Attachment Styles01:24

Attachment Styles

Jeffrey Simpson's attachment theory suggests that early caregiver relationships shape lasting patterns of behavior and emotional regulation, known as attachment styles. These patterns are organized along two key dimensions: self-esteem and interpersonal trust. The intersection of these dimensions produces four primary attachment styles that typically persist throughout life and significantly influence how individuals form and maintain relationships.Secure Attachment StyleIndividuals with a...
Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood03:34

Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood

Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships.
Relationship with Parents: Attachment01:28

Relationship with Parents: Attachment

Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...
Hazan and Shaver's Attachment Styles01:28

Hazan and Shaver's Attachment Styles

Attachment theory, developed initially to explain infant–caregiver bonds, has been extended to illuminate patterns of intimacy in adult romantic relationships. Psychologists Cindy Hazan and Phillip Shaver proposed that the attachment styles observed in infancy form a framework for how individuals approach emotional closeness and conflict in adulthood. These attachment styles—secure, avoidant, and anxious—are linked to enduring patterns of behavior and emotional regulation in adult relationships.
Sources of Self-Esteem I: Family Experience01:18

Sources of Self-Esteem I: Family Experience

Self-esteem, a crucial component of psychological development, is significantly shaped by familial experiences. The early parent-child relationship serves as a foundational influence on a child's self-concept, with long-lasting effects extending into adolescence and adulthood.Parental Behaviors and Early Self-Esteem FormationEmpirical studies have identified four principal parental behaviors that foster healthy self-esteem in children. These include expressions of acceptance, affection, and...