MATERNAL SENSITIVITY AND INFANT ATTACHMENT SECURITY IN JAPAN - A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY

In this study we examined the relation between maternal sensitivity an d child attachment security, one of the core propositions of attachmen t theory, in a Japanese sample. Attachment security was assessed with the Attachment Q-Sort at the ages of 14 and 24 months. At the same age s, ratings were obtained for the mothers' sensitivity in interactions with their children. The expected significant relationship between mat ernal sensitivity and child security was found both at 14 and 24 month s, Maternal sensitivity showed moderate stability between the two ages , LISREL analysis showed that the correlation between maternal sensiti vity and infant security at 24 months is not fully explained by the co rrelation between sensitivity and security 10 months earlier. This ind icates that maternal sensitivity continues to play a significant role in the development of a secure attachment relationship in the second y ear of life.