ATTACHMENT IN MOTHERS WITH ANXIETY DISORDERS AND THEIR CHILDREN

Objective: This study examined adult attachment in mothers diagnosed w ith anxiety disorders and child-mother attachment in their children. M ethod: Eighteen mothers with Axis I anxiety disorders completed the Ad ult Attachment Interview and standardized questionnaires. These mother s and their preschool children (n = 20) then participated in the Stran ge Situation Procedure. Results: All mothers were classified as nonaut onomous with respect to attachment, with 78% judged unresolved. When t hose judged unresolved were reassigned to their alternate categories, the proportion of nonautonomous mothers was 61%. Eighty percent of the children were classified as insecurely attached, with 65% judged diso rganized. When those judged disorganized were reassigned to their alte rnate categories, the proportion of insecurely attached children was 5 5%. Sixty-five percent of the children matched their mother's attachme nt classification. Mothers of securely attached children reported fewe r recent life events, fewer depressive symptoms, and a greater sense o f parenting competence than mothers of insecurely attached children. C onclusions: These results suggest that attachment measures can be appl ied to anxious populations. The high rate of insecurity among offsprin g of anxious mothers indicates a need for longitudinal studies of thes e children.