Infant Attachment Moderates Paths From Early Negativity to Preadolescent Outcomes for Children and Parents.

ABSTRACT: Although infant attachment has been long seen as key for development, its long-term effects may be complex. Attachment may be a catalyst or moderator of future developmental sequelae rather than a source of main effects. In 102 mothers, fathers, and infants, attachment was assessed at 15 months; children's negativity (rejection of parental rules and modeling attempts) at 25, 38, 52, and 67 months; and developmental outcomes (the child's parent-rated externalizing problems and the parent-child observed relationship quality) at ages 10 and 12. In both mother-child and father-child relationships, children's higher negativity was associated with more detrimental outcomes but only in dyads with formerly insecure infants. Infant insecurity appears to amplify detrimental cascades, whereas infant

SUBMITTER: Boldt LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5332538 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature