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Sensitivity and attachment: a meta-analysis on parental antecedents of infant attachment

M S De Wolff1, M H van Ijzendoorn

  • 1Center for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, The Netherlands.

Child Development
|August 1, 1997
PubMed

Insights

Maternal sensitivity is moderately linked to infant attachment security. Other parenting dimensions also significantly influence secure attachment in children.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Attachment Theory
  • Child Development

Background:

  • Attachment security is crucial for child development.
  • Parental factors, particularly maternal sensitivity, are theorized to influence attachment.
  • Existing research presents varied findings on the strength of this association.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To meta-analyze the association between maternal sensitivity and infant attachment security.
  • To compare the strength of association in studies similar to Ainsworth's original work versus divergent studies.
  • To identify other parenting dimensions influencing attachment security.

Main Methods:

  • A meta-analysis of 66 studies (N=4,176) examining parental antecedents of attachment security.
  • Studies were categorized into 9 groups based on conceptual homogeneity of parenting constructs and measures.
  • Effect sizes were calculated, with a focus on 21 studies (N=1,099) using the Strange Situation procedure and observational sensitivity measures.

Main Results:

  • A combined effect size of r=0.24 was found for maternal sensitivity and infant attachment security (corrected for attenuation).
  • This association is considered moderately strong based on conventional criteria.
  • Sensitivity is an important, but not the sole, factor for attachment security in typical settings.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal sensitivity is a significant, yet not exclusive, predictor of infant attachment security.
  • Other parenting dimensions play equally important roles in fostering secure attachment.
  • Attachment theory needs to incorporate contextual factors and nonshared environmental influences, especially in stressful settings.

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