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The course of maternal depressive symptoms and maternal sensitivity as predictors of attachment security at 36 months
We examined the course of maternal depressive symptoms and children's attachment security at 36 months in a large sample of mother–child pairs from 10 sites across the country participating in the NICHD Study of Early Child Care (N = 1077). Maternal depressive symptoms predicted higher rates of...
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Published in: | Development and psychopathology 2004-06, Vol.16 (2), p.231-252 |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | We examined the course of maternal depressive symptoms and
children's attachment security at 36 months in a large sample of
mother–child pairs from 10 sites across the country participating
in the NICHD Study of Early Child Care (N = 1077). Maternal
depressive symptoms predicted higher rates of insecure attachment.
Women who reported intermittent symptoms across the first 36
months had preschoolers who were more likely to be classified as
insecure C or D; women with chronic symptoms were more likely
to have preschoolers who were classified as insecure D. Symptoms
reported only during the first 15 months were not associated with
elevated rates of later insecurity. After controlling for potentially
confounding demographic variables, maternal sensitivity (observed at 6,
15, 24, and 36 months) did not meaningfully account for links between
attachment security and patterns of depressive symptoms. However, the
course and timing of maternal depressive symptoms interacted with
maternal sensitivity to predict insecurity. Women with late,
intermittent, or chronic symptoms who were also low
in sensitivity were more likely to have preschoolers who were insecure,
in contrast to symptomatic women who were high in sensitivity. These
data have implications for understanding the combined impact of
maternal depressive symptoms and maternal sensitivity on
children's socioemotional development.These data were collected under the auspices of the NICHD
Study of Early Child Care. Susan B. Campbell, Celia A. Brownell, and
Susan J. Spieker are investigators in this multisite study. We
acknowledge the generous support of the NICHD (Grants HD25420 and
HD25447). The study is directed by a Steering Committee and supported
by NICHD through a cooperative agreement (U10) that calls for a
scientific collaboration between the grantees and the NICHD staff. The
authors thank their coinvestigators who worked with them on the design
of the larger study, the site coordinators and research assistants who
collected the data, and the children and families who continue to
participate in this longitudinal study. Our appreciation is also
expressed to Dr. Carey Ryan for statistical advice. We also thank the
coders who scored the maternal sensitivity and preschool attachment
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ISSN: | 0954-5794 1469-2198 |
DOI: | 10.1017/S0954579404044499 |