Ma. Easterbrooks et al., PSYCHOSOCIAL RISK, ATTACHMENT, AND BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS AMONG SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN, Development and psychopathology, 5(3), 1993, pp. 389-402
The role of environmental risk and protective factors (attachment, ver
bal intelligence) in school-aged children's adaptation was examined. S
ubjects were 45 7-year-old children from low socioeconomic status envi
ronments. Security of attachment to mother was assessed by reunion beh
avior in the laboratory following an hour-long separation. Mothers and
teachers reported on behavior problems using the Child Behavior Check
list. Results revealed a higher proportion of insecure attachments and
behavior problems than in low-risk populations. Greater risk and less
security were associated with poorer behavioral adaptation. Multiple
regressions tested a model of protective processes; results demonstrat
ed main effects of attachment security, even after controlling for ext
ent of environmental risk.