PERCEPTIONS OF EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FROM MOTHER AND FRIEND IN MIDDLE CHILDHOOD - LINKS WITH SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL ADAPTATION AND PRESCHOOL ATTACHMENT SECURITY

Children's (N = 58) perceptions of emotional support from mother and b est friend were assessed at age 8. Perceptions of support from mother were predicted by attachment security at age 4, suggesting continuity in the children's internal working model of self in relation to mother . Preschool attachment security predicted age 8 perceptions of materna l support better than the mother's actual behavior at age 8. Identific ation of the best friend as a member of one's emotional support networ k was not related to security, but was positively related to social co mpetence. However, among insecurely attached children, the greater the reliance on the best friend for emotional support, the greater the ex ternalizing problems. Compensatory effects of best friend support on t he social-emotional adaptation of insecurely attached children were no t found.