Very extensive nonmaternal care predicts mother–infant attachment disorganization: Convergent evidence from two samples
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2015 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Development and Psychopathology |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=9351063&fulltextType=RA&fileId=S0954579414000893 |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0954579414000893 |
| Field | Psychology |
| Keywords | attachment; disorganized attachment; frightening/frightened maternal behavior; nonmaternal care |
| Attached files | |
| Description | We examined whether a maximum threshold of time spent in nonmaternal care exists, beyond which infants have an increased risk of forming a disorganized infant-mother attachment. The hours per week infants spent in nonmaternal care at 7-8 months were examined as a continuous measure and as a dichotomous threshold (over 40, 50 and 60 hours/week) to predict infant disorganization at 12-15 months. Two different samples (Austin and NICHD) were used to replicate findings and control for critical covariates: mothers’ unresolved status and frightening behavior (assessed in the Austin sample, N=125), quality of nonmaternal caregiving (assessed in the NICHD sample, N=1,135), and family income and infant temperament (assessed in both samples). Only very extensive hours of nonmaternal care (over 60 hours/week) and mothers’ frightening behavior independently predicted attachment disorganization. A polynomial logistic regression performed on the larger NICHD sample indicated that the risk of disorganized attachment exponentially increased after exceeding 60 hours/week. Also, very extensive hours of nonmaternal care only predicted attachment disorganization after age 6 months (not prior). Findings suggest that during a sensitive period of attachment formation, infants who spend over 60 hours/week in nonmaternal care may be at an increased risk of forming a disorganized attachment. |
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