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Middle Childhood Support‐Seeking Behavior During Stress: Links With Self‐Reported Attachment and Future Depressive Symptoms
Author(s) -
Dujardin Adinda,
Santens Tara,
Braet Caroline,
De Raedt Rudi,
Vos Pieter,
Maes Bea,
Bosmans Guy
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/cdev.12491
Subject(s) - psychology , depressive symptoms , social support , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , anxiety , depression (economics) , psychiatry , psychotherapist , economics , macroeconomics
This study tested whether children's more anxious and avoidant attachment is linked to decreased support‐seeking behavior toward their mother during stress in middle childhood, and whether children's decreased support‐seeking behavior enhances the impact of experiencing life events on the increase of depressive symptoms 18 months later. Ninety‐eight 8‐ to 12‐year‐old children filled out questionnaires assessing their level of anxious and avoidant attachment and depressive symptoms. Children's support‐seeking behavior was observed through measuring the time children waited before calling for their mother's help while carrying out a stressful task. Results supported the hypothesis that more anxiously or avoidantly attached children waited longer before seeking maternal support. Moreover, waiting longer was related to increased depressive symptoms at follow‐up in children who reported more experienced life events.