From mother-regulated to child-regulated joint planning activity: A look at familial adversity and attachment

The aim of this study was to examine how the quality of mother-child attach ment and the level of familial adversity are related to differences in moth er-child joint planning during the preschool period. Ninety-one 4- to 7-yea r-olds and their mothers participated in an errand-planning task. Four patt erns of responsibility sharing in task resolution were compared as a functi on of attachment, level of familial adversity, and complexity of planning o perations. Results indicated a familial adversity main effect with regard t o observed patterns of responsibility sharing for global planning, with dya ds from the high adversity group less likely to use these strategies. A sig nificant main effect of attachment and a moderator effect were also found f or patterns of responsibility sharing with respect to local planning. Taken together, these effects suggest that attachment security provides a better context for child participation in local planning operations within low ad versity families. Findings highlight the relevance of examining the social context of parenting and suggest that educational strategies differ as a fu nction of the larger social and economic context of family life.