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Perceptions of Emotional Support from Mother and Friend in Middle Childhood: Links with Social‐Emotional Adaptation and Preschool Attachment Security
Author(s) -
Booth Cathryn L.,
Rubin Kenneth H.,
RoseKrasnor Linda
Publication year - 1998
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/j.1467-8624.1998.tb06200.x
Subject(s) - psychology , developmental psychology , emotional development , adaptation (eye) , social emotional learning , perception , emotional security , social support , child development , social change , social psychology , neuroscience , economics , economic growth
Children's ( N = 58) perceptions of emotional support from mother and best friend were assessed at age 8. Perceptions of support from mother were predicted by attachment security at age 4, suggesting continuity in the children's internal working model of self in relation to mother. Preschool attachment security predicted age 8 perceptions of maternal support better than the mother's actual behavior at age 8. Identification of the best friend as a member of one's emotional support network was not related to security, but was positively related to social competence. However, among insecurely attached children, the greater the reliance on the best friend for emotional support, the greater the externalizing problems. Compensatory effects of best friend support on the social‐emotional adaptation of insecurely attached children were not found.