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The Significance of Insecure and Disorganized Attachment for Children’s Internalizing Symptoms: A Meta‐Analytic Study
Author(s) -
Groh Ashley M.,
Roisman Glenn I.,
van IJzendoorn Marinus H.,
BakermansKranenburg Marian J.,
Fearon R. Pasco
Publication year - 2012
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.1467-8624.2011.01711.x
Subject(s) - psychology , association (psychology) , insecure attachment , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , externalization , attachment theory , psychotherapist , psychoanalysis
This meta‐analytic review examines the association between attachment and internalizing symptomatology during childhood, and compares the strength of this association with that for externalizing symptomatology. Based on 42 independent samples ( N = 4,614), the association between insecurity and internalizing symptoms was small, yet significant ( d = 0.15, CI 0.06∼0.25) and not moderated by assessment age of internalizing problems. Avoidance, but not resistance ( d = 0.03, CI −0.11∼0.17) or disorganization ( d = 0.08, CI − 0.06∼0.22), was significantly associated with internalizing symptoms ( d = 0.17, CI 0.03∼0.31). Insecurity and disorganization were more strongly associated with externalizing than internalizing symptoms. Discussion focuses on the significance of attachment for the development of internalizing versus externalizing symptomatology.