Mothers of anxious/ambivalent infants: Maternal characteristics and child-care context

A general model of the determinants of parenting was employed to explore th e antecedents of the ambivalent attachment pattern in Israel. Specifically, three classes of variables were identified: maternal, infant, and childcar e context. Participants were 98 mothers and their infants. This research wa s part of a longitudinal study on sleep patterns. Mothers filled out questi onnaires and were observed with their infants in the Ainsworth Strange Situ ation laboratory procedure. Mothers of ambivalent infants showed lower educ ation level, higher separation anxiety, and higher parenting stress than mo thers of secure infants. Infants' perceived difficult temperament did riot discriminate between the two groups. Longer hours spent at work and placeme nt in group day-care were both associated with ambivalent attachment. The f indings are discussed in light of the importance of considering distal fact ors such as maternal attitudes and general caregiving strategy in clarifyin g the antecedents of attachment patterns.