Evidence of a developmental shift in the nature of attachment representations: a longitudinal taxometric investigation of secure base script knowledge from middle childhood into adolescence

• Published in: Attachment & human development 2024-10, Vol.26 (5), p.464-481
• Main Authors: Houbrechts, Melisse, Waters, Theodore E. A., Facompré, Christopher R., Bijttebier, Patricia, Goossens, Luc, Van Leeuwen, Karla, Van Den Noortgate, Wim, Bosmans, Guy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Development; attachment script assessment; Child; Child Development; early adolescence; Female; Humans; Individuality; Knowledge; Longitudinal Studies; Male; middle childhood; Object Attachment; Secure base script knowledge; taxometric method
• ISSN: 1461-6734; 1469-2988; 1469-2988
• DOI: 10.1080/14616734.2024.2399344

Prior research suggests that secure base script knowledge is categorically distributed in middle childhood but becomes dimensionally distributed from late adolescence onward, potentially indicating a developmental shift in the nature of secure base script knowledge. Secure base script knowledge may initially be sparse, giving rise to categorical individual differences, while increased relational experiences later in development might contribute to more elaborated secure base script knowledge and dimensional individual differences. However, the cross-sectional nature of prior research limits inferences about developmental changes. To address this, we conducted a three-year, three-wave longitudinal study with a Western European sample transitioning from middle childhood to adolescence. At Wave 1 (n = 599, M age = 10.30), secure base script knowledge was categorically distributed. By Wave 2 (n = 435, M age = 11.30), distribution was ambiguous, and by Wave 3 (n = 370, M age = 12.09), individual differences were dimensional. These results suggest a developmental shift in secure base script knowledge during the transition into adolescence.