Configurations of mother‐child and father‐child attachment as predictors of internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems

An individual participant data (IPD) meta‐analysis

Bibliographic Data

ID15404136
AuthorsOr Dagan (0000-0002-4674-5425, Stony Brook University, corresponding author), Carlo Schuengel (0000-0001-5501-3341, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), Marije L Verhage (0000-0001-8207-2283, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), Marinus H Van Ijzendoorn (0000-0003-1144-454X, University of Cambridge), Abraham Sagi‐schwartz (0000-0002-6813-0667, University of Haifa), Sheri Madigan (0000-0002-7536-3258, University of Calgary), R Duschinsky (0000-0003-2023-5328, University of Cambridge), Glenn I Roisman (0000-0002-6941-6560, University of Minnesota), Kristin Bernard (0000-0003-2421-8453, Stony Brook University), Marian Bakermans‐Kranenburg (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), Jean-François Bureau (0000-0003-0819-6602, University of Ottawa), Jean‐françois Bureau (0000-0003-1945-1883, School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences University of Ottawa Ottawa Canada), Brenda L Volling (0000-0002-2806-7237, University of Michigan), Maria S Wong (0000-0002-5884-4201, Endicott College), Cristina Colonnesi (0000-0002-5740-7827, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences), Geoffrey L Brown (0000-0003-0805-0064, University of Georgia), Rina D Eiden (0000-0002-5303-3661, Pennsylvania State University), R M Pasco Fearon (0000-0003-1847-8443, Language Science (South Korea)), Mirjam Oosterman (0000-0002-1487-4775, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), Ora Aviezer (University of Haifa), E Mark Cummings (0000-0002-5932-606X, University of Notre Dame), The Collaboration on Attachment to Multiple Parents and Outcomes Synthesis
Year2021
Volume2021
Issue180
Pages67-94
Publication date2021-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueNew Directions for Child and Adolescent Development (BOOK_SERIES)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1520-3247 • E-ISSN: 1534-8687
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/cad.20450
PMID35005834
OpenAlexW4206456404
LanguageEN
Citations received19
References cited79

An unsettled question in attachment theory and research is the extent to which children's attachment patterns with mothers and fathers jointly predict developmental outcomes. In this study, we used individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis to assess whether early attachment networks with mothers and fathers are associated with children's internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems. Following a pre-registered protocol, data from 9 studies and 1,097 children (mean age: 28.67 months) with attachment classifications to both mothers and fathers were included in analyses. We used a linear mixed effects analysis to assess differences in children's internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems as assessed via the average of both maternal and paternal reports based on whether children had two, one, or no insecure (or disorganized) attachments. Results indicated that children with an insecure attachment relationship with one or both parents were at higher risk for elevated internalizing behavioral problems compared with children who were securely attached to both parents. Children whose attachment relationships with both parents were classified as disorganized had more externalizing behavioral problems compared to children with either one or no disorganized attachment relationship with their parents. Across attachment classification networks and behavioral problems, findings suggest (a) an increased vulnerability to behavioral problems when children have insecure or disorganized attachment to both parents, and (b) that mother-child and father-child attachment relationships may not differ in the roles they play in children's development of internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems

Attachment measures · Attachment theory · Behavioral pattern · Externalization · Insecure attachment · Social relation · Vulnerability (computing · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Family Dynamics and Relationships

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