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Published on: May 17, 2024
Parent-Infant Attachment and Gross Motor Development During the First 2 Years of Life: A Systematic Review
Alicia Varas-Meis1,2, Itziar Alonso-Arbiol3, Miriam Gallarin3
1Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
Insights
Secure parent-infant attachment positively influences infant gross motor development. Early positive interactions are key for healthy physical milestones in the first two years of life.
Area of Science:
- Child Development
- Developmental Psychology
- Motor Development
Background:
- The parent-infant attachment system is fundamental for various aspects of child development.
- Understanding the link between early attachment and motor skill acquisition is crucial for developmental research.
Conclusions:
- Secure parent-infant attachment is linked to improved gross motor skills in early childhood.
- Future research should focus on larger sample sizes and more detailed motor assessments to further elucidate this relationship.
Abstract:
The attachment system is crucial in several aspects of child development. We aimed at synthesizing the existing knowledge on the association between mother/father attachment to the infant and gross motor development during the first 2 years of life. A systematic review following PRISMA standards was preregistered in PROSPERO (CRD42022308841) in April 2022 and conducted in May 2022 (updated: July 2023, July 2024, and January 2025). PubMed, Web of Science, APA PsycINFO, and PSICODOC databases were searched. Peer-reviewed observational studies in English or Spanish with a minimum score of five on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, used for assessing bias risk, were included. Results are critically presented and synthesized. Ten studies were selected out of the initial pool of 813 records. Findings are described based on the parent-infant attachment and gross motor development, the association of parental roles and co-parenting dynamics, and the effect of stress on motor development. Positive early parent-infant interactions and secure parent-infant attachment are associated with better infant motor development. Studies with larger samples and more specific motor assessments are suggested for the advancement of the field.
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