Marital behavior and the security of preschooler-parent attachment relationships

Citation
Ca. Frosch et al., Marital behavior and the security of preschooler-parent attachment relationships, J FAM PSYCH, 14(1), 2000, pp. 144-161
Citations number
73
Categorie Soggetti
Psycology
Journal title
JOURNAL OF FAMILY PSYCHOLOGY
ISSN journal
08933200 → ACNP
Volume
14
Issue
1
Year of publication
2000
Pages
144 - 161
Database
ISI
SICI code
0893-3200(200003)14:1<144:MBATSO>2.0.ZU;2-K
Abstract
Longitudinal and concurrent relations among positive and negative marital b ehaviors in 2 contexts and preschoolers' security of attachment were examin ed for 53 families. At 6 months postpartum, couples were observed in their homes during couple discussion and family play. At 3 years, parents complet ed the Attachment Q-Set (E. Waters, 1987); marital and parenting behavior w as also observed. Interparental hostility during family play at 6 months pr edicted less secure preschooler-mother attachment. Greater marital conflict at 3 years was associated with less security with mother and father, where as positive marital engagement at 3 years was associated with more secure c hild-father attachment. Mothers' parenting partially explained the linkages between marital behavior and child-mother attachment. These results highli ght the impact of positive and negative marital behaviors on children's abi lities to use their parents as a secure base.