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Change in Atypical Maternal Behavior Predicts Change in Attachment Disorganization From 12 to 24 Months in a High‐Risk Sample
Author(s) -
Forbes L. M.,
Evans E. M.,
Moran G.,
Pederson D. R.
Publication year - 2007
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.1467-8624.2007.01043.x
Subject(s) - psychology , extant taxon , developmental psychology , longitudinal sample , maternal sensitivity , attachment theory , strange situation , maternal deprivation , behavior change , adolescent development , longitudinal study , child development , social psychology , evolutionary biology , biology , statistics , mathematics
This longitudinal study examined links between disorganization and atypical maternal behavior at 12 and 24 months in 71 adolescent mother–child dyads. Organized attachment and maternal not disrupted behavior were more stable than disorganization and disrupted behavior, respectively. At both ages, disorganization and maternal disrupted behavior were significantly correlated. Change in atypical maternal behavior predicted change in disorganization across time. The results provide substantial support for extant theories linking anomalous maternal behavior to the development of disorganized attachment. The Interesting‐but‐Scary paradigm, introduced in this study, promises to be a useful tool for assessing attachment and maternal behavior in toddlerhood.