Poster #67 - Attachment-Related Domains of Caregiving and Child Behavior during Mother-Toddler and Father-Toddler Interactions

• In Event: Poster Session 10

Abstract

Caregiving sensitivity has a robust association with child attachment security (e.g., Verhage et al., 2016). While much work emphasizes child-mother attachment, the need to better integrate fathers into attachment research has been highlighted (Ahnert & Schoppe-Sullivan, 2020) given the salience of paternal sensitivity for children’s social-emotional outcomes (e.g., Bureau et al., 2017). Interestingly, maternal and paternal sensitivity are correlated, yet mothers tend to have slightly higher levels of sensitivity compared to fathers (Denault et al., 2022). While informative, extant research often relies on global behavioral indices; we know less about specific aspects of caregiving that promote attachment-related behaviors among children and how they relate to one another, especially during child-father interactions. To fill this gap, the current study examines associations between attachment-related domains of caregiving and child behavior among mothers, fathers, and their toddlers.

Seventy-five mother-father-toddlers participated. Toddlers (49.3% female) were 29.21 months old (SD = 4.21). Participants were primarily non-Hispanic Caucasian and middle class. Each parent-child dyad was visited once at home and park, for a total of four visits per family. Observers described caregiving behavior using the Caregiving Behavior for Preschoolers Q-Set (CBPQS; Posada et al., 1998) and child behavior using the Attachment Q-Set (AQS; Waters, 1995); composites were created averaging descriptions across contexts. The CBPQS and AQS include four domains of caregiving and child behavior, respectively. CBPQS domains include secure base support (SBS; 23 items), parental contributions to smooth interactions (CSI; 21 items), limit setting (LS; 7 items), and supervision (9 items). AQS domains include child’s contributions to harmonious interactions (CHI; 17 items), proximity seeking (PS; 13 items), physical contact with parent (PCP; 7 items), and child’s interactions with other adults (IO; 13 items). Domain item scores (1-9) were averaged; higher scores reflect more of the specified behavior (see Table 1).

Findings revealed CBPQS domains were correlated within parent, except for supervision (see Table 2). Across parents, maternal and paternal SBS were correlated, r = .31, p = .008. However, mothers showed marginally lower levels than did fathers, t(71) = -1.66, p = .10, d = .51. Similarly, parents’ CSIs were correlated, r = .57, p < .001, though mothers again showed lower levels, t(71) = -2.20, p = .03, d = .54. AQS domains were also mostly correlated within parent (see Table 2). Across parents, children’s domain scores were associated (rs:.33 - .66, ps < .005), except for PCP. No mean-level differences were found.

Associations between CBPQS and AQS domains (see Table 2) revealed that fathers’ SBS and CHI were positively associated with child CSI and PS. Among mother-toddler dyads: maternal SBS was positively associated with child CSI and PS; CHI was related with all four AQS domains; and supervision was correlated with child IO. Results highlight that parental SBS and CHI may be especially salient aspects of caregiving predictive of children’s attachment-related behaviors, and are evident among mothers and fathers. The validity of the caregiving LS domain among fathers and need for a family systems framework to investigate attachment relationships will be discussed.

Authors

• Jill M Trumbell, University of New Hampshire
  Presenting Author

• Laura Y Anaya, Ounce of Prevention Fund

• Geurim Kim, Purdue University, West Lafayette

• Muqing Liu, Purdue University, West Lafayette

• German E Posada, Purdue University, West Lafayette