Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 18, 2025

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

86.7K

Early Child Care Experiences and Attachment Representations at Age 18 Years: Evidence from the NICHD Study of Early

Theodore E A Waters1, Sophia W Magro2, Jude Alhajeri1

  • 1New York University - Abu Dhabi.

Developmental Psychology
|October 1, 2021
PubMed

Insights

High-quality early child care was linked to secure attachment states of mind in adolescents. This association remained significant even when accounting for parental sensitivity and child temperament, highlighting the lasting impact of early care environments.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Attachment Theory
  • Child Development

Background:

  • Extensive research exists on early child care and mother-child attachment.
  • Prospective studies linking early child care to adolescent attachment representations are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine associations between early child care (quality, quantity, type) in the first 54 months and adolescent attachment representations at age 18.
  • To investigate the influence of early child care on the content of adolescent attachment states of mind.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD) with 857 adolescents.
  • Assessed early child care variables and adolescent attachment using the Adult Attachment Interview and Attachment Script Assessment.
  • Controlled for demographic covariates, maternal/paternal sensitivity, and child temperament.

Main Results:

  • A small positive association was found between early child care quality and secure attachment states of mind at age 18.
  • Child care quantity and type did not show significant associations with adolescent attachment.
  • No significant interactions or moderating effects were observed for child care variables, maternal sensitivity, or child temperament.

Conclusions:

  • Early child care quality, not quantity or type, may have a subtle positive influence on adolescent attachment security.
  • These findings underscore the importance of quality early child care for long-term attachment development.
  • Further research could explore mechanisms underlying this association.

Keywords:
Adult Attachment Interviewattachmentcaregivingchild caredifferential susceptibilitydual risksecure base script

More Related Videos

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure07:56

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

Published on: September 19, 2019

10.2K
Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm06:35

Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm

Published on: April 28, 2016

34.5K

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...
185
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...
41
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. 
45.7K
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...
27
The Nativist Approach01:21

The Nativist Approach

The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to...
194
Relationship with Other Adult Family Members and Siblings01:29

Relationship with Other Adult Family Members and Siblings

Other adult family members and siblings play a crucial role in shaping children’s social and emotional development. While parents or primary caregivers are often the central figures in early attachment and socialization, other adults in a child’s life, such as grandparents, aunts, and uncles, can significantly influence developmental outcomes. These influences depend on each adult’s personality and may help compensate when a primary caregiver is emotionally distant or...
37