Parental Attachment

Attachment relationships describe an affectional or emotional bond between two people. The term parental attachment describes the attachment relationship a child shares with his or her parent. Early attachment relationships are widely studied as important influences on child and family development. Mary Ainsworth and John Bowlby were two pioneers in the area of attachment theory, and their observations and writings continue to influence our thinking about attachment today. More important, the impact of separation and loss, along with the child's use of the parent as a secure base [Page 804]to explore and learn about the world, remain key concepts in understanding the formation and influence of attachment relationships.

Attachment relationships form over the course of the first year of life and are shaped by the child's experience of care received from his or her primary caregivers. Secure attachments are marked by a desire for closeness and contact with the parent when the child is distressed and by the child's use of the parent as a secure base from which to explore. Insecure attachment relationships, in contrast, can be marked by avoidance of the parent, angry and resistant behavior, or a mixture of behaviors that indicate that the child does not experience comfort or use the parent as a secure base. Disorganized attachment relationships are marked by contradictory or frightened behaviors with the parent and are more prevalent among at-risk groups, such as abused or maltreated infants.

The predictive validity of attachment security during infancy for later development is well established. Among the findings reported over the past decades, securely attached infants show greater competence with peers and fewer problem behaviors, greater self-reliance and self-confidence, and more positive cognitive, language, and emotional outcomes across early childhood.

This entry begins with a discussion of techniques used for measuring attachment. Next, this entry examines factors related to attachment security. Lastly, this entry describes intervention and prevention measures to enhance parental attachment.