Examining Parents’ Romantic Attachment Styles and Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms as Predictors of Caregiving Experiences

Bibliographic Data

ID11276546
AuthorsLaura M River (0000-0002-1338-3026, Pomona College and University of Colorado Boulder, corresponding author), Jessica L Borelli (0000-0001-8471-6732, Pomona College and University of California Irvine), Katherine Nelson-Coffey (0000-0002-9958-6819, Sewanee: The University of the South), S Katherine Nelson‐Coffey (Sewanee: The University of the South)
Year2016
Volume37
Issue5
Pages560-573
Publication date2016-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInfant Mental Health Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0163-9641 • E-ISSN: 1097-0355
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/imhj.21587
PMID27579797
OpenAlexW2517819513
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited66

Evidence has suggested that parental romantic attachment style and depressive and anxiety symptoms are related to experiences of caregiving (Creswell, Apetroaia, Murray, & Cooper, 2013; Jones, Cassidy, & Shaver, 2014; Lovejoy, Graczyk, O'Hare, & Neuman, 2000), but more research is necessary to clarify the nature of these relations, particularly in the context of attachment‐salient events such as reunions. In a cross‐sectional study of 150 parents of children ages 1 to 3 years, we assessed participants’ attachment styles (self‐reported anxiety and avoidance) and depressive and anxiety symptoms. Participants generated a narrative describing their most recent reunion with their child, which we coded for caregiving outcomes of negative emotion and secure base script content. Attachment style and depressive and anxiety symptoms separately predicted each caregiving outcome. Depressive and anxiety symptoms mediated the associations between attachment style and caregiving outcomes. These results suggest that parental attachment insecurity and depressive and anxiety symptoms contribute to negative emotion and reduced secure base script content. Further, depressive and anxiety symptomatology partially accounts for the relation between attachment insecurity and caregiving outcomes, suggesting that parental mental health is a critical point for intervention

Anxiety · Attachment theory · Depressive symptoms · Developmental psychology · Mental health · Psychiatry · Romance · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Family Support in Illness · Psychology

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