LINKING EMPLOYMENT TO ATTACHMENT - THE MEDIATING EFFECTS OF MATERNAL SEPARATION ANXIETY AND INTERACTIVE BEHAVIOR

Citation
Ca. Stifter et al., LINKING EMPLOYMENT TO ATTACHMENT - THE MEDIATING EFFECTS OF MATERNAL SEPARATION ANXIETY AND INTERACTIVE BEHAVIOR, Child development, 64(5), 1993, pp. 1451-1460
Citations number
39
Categorie Soggetti
Psychology, Educational","Psychology, Developmental
Journal title
ISSN journal
00093920
Volume
64
Issue
5
Year of publication
1993
Pages
1451 - 1460
Database
ISI
SICI code
0009-3920(1993)64:5<1451:LETA-T>2.0.ZU;2-C
Abstract
This study examined the effects of maternal employment and separation anxiety on maternal interactive behavior and infant attachment. 73 mot her-infant pairs participated in a laboratory free-play session when i nfants were 5 and 10 months of age and in the Strange Situation when t he infants were 18 months of age. Maternal feelings about being separa ted from her infant were assessed by questionnaire at 5 months. Employ ed mothers returned to work before the infants' fifth month, and nonem ployed mothers did not work outside the home through their infants' te nth month. Employed mothers who reported high levels of separation anx iety were more likely to exhibit intrusive behaviors at 10 months. Whi le employment was not directly related to attachment, we found infants of high-anxiety employed mothers to develop anxious-avoidant attachme nts. The results suggest that maternal separation anxiety and interact ive style may be important mediators between employment and later infa nt outcome.