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Houbrechts M, Cuyvers B, Goossens L, Bijttebier P, Bröhl AS, Calders F, Chubar V, Claes S, Geukens F, Van Leeuwen K, Noortgate WVD, Weyn S, Bosmans G. Parental support and insecure attachment development: the cortisol stress response as a moderator. Attach Hum Dev 2023; 25:104-116. [PMID: 33871320 DOI: 10.1080/14616734.2021.1907968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The current study investigated whether variations at the level of the cortisol stress response moderate the association between parental support and attachment development. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a one-year longitudinal study with two waves in which 101 children (56% girls, Mage = 11.15, SDage = 0.70) participated. Attachment anxiety and avoidance were measured at baseline (Wave 1) and one year later (Wave 2). Parental support and children's cortisol stress response during the Trier Social Stress Test were measured at Wave 2. Children's cortisol stress response was found to moderate the association between parental support and relative change in anxious attachment. A strong cortisol stress response weakened the associated between parental support and relative change in anxious attachment. No moderation effects were found for relative change in avoidant attachment.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Houbrechts
- Clinical Psychology Research Group, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - B Cuyvers
- Clinical Psychology Research Group, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - L Goossens
- School Psychology and Development in Context Research Unit, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - P Bijttebier
- School Psychology and Development in Context Research Unit, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - A S Bröhl
- School Psychology and Development in Context Research Unit, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - F Calders
- Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - V Chubar
- KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - S Claes
- KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - F Geukens
- School Psychology and Development in Context Research Unit, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - K Van Leeuwen
- Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - W Van Den Noortgate
- Methodology of Educational Sciences Research Group, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Leuven, Belgium.,imec-ITEC, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - S Weyn
- School Psychology and Development in Context Research Unit, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - G Bosmans
- Clinical Psychology Research Group, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
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Abstract
Abstract
The current study explored dynamics of secure state attachment expectations in everyday life in middle childhood, specifically state attachment carry-over and reactivity to experiences of caregiver support in the context of stress. In two independent samples (one community sample, N = 123; one adoption sample, N = 69), children (8–12 years) daily reported on their state attachment for respectively 14 and 7 consecutive days. Additionally, they reported daily on their experiences of distress and subsequent experiences of caregiver support. Results in both samples indicated that secure state attachment on a day-to-day basis is characterized by a significant positive carry-over effect, suggesting that state attachment fluctuations are (partially) self-predictive. In Study 1, experiencing no support following distress significantly related to intraindividual decreases in secure state attachment; in Study 2, experiencing effective support during distress related to intra-individual increases in secure state attachment. Taken together, the current studies provide novel and important insights into how state attachment temporally evolves on a day-to-day basis in middle childhood.
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Waters TEA, Yang R, Finet C, Verhees MWFT, Bosmans G. An empirical test of prototype and revisionist models of attachment stability and change from middle childhood to adolescence: A 6-year longitudinal study. Child Dev 2021; 93:225-236. [PMID: 34549815 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
We examined the prototype v. revisionist models of attachment stability with a five-wave, 6-year, longitudinal study of attachment security from middle childhood to adolescence in a White Western European sample (N = 157; Wave 1 Mage = 10.91, SD = 0.87; 52% female). Attachment was assessed using both questionnaire (Experiences in Close Relationships) and narrative-based measures (Attachment Script Assessment). In addition, a set of potential moderators of prototype-like stability were examined. Results indicated that data from both attachment assessments best fit the prototype model. Moderator analyses indicated that male sex significantly undermined the influence of an attachment prototype and parent-child conflict and parental divorce enhanced the influence of an attachment prototype on stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodore E A Waters
- Department of Psychology, New York University-Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Rui Yang
- Department of Psychology, New York University-Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Chloë Finet
- Parenting and Special Education Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Martine W F T Verhees
- Clinical Child and Family Studies, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Guy Bosmans
- Clinical Psychology Unit, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Vinke A. Intercountry adoption, trauma and dissociation: Combining interventions to enhance integration. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF TRAUMA & DISSOCIATION 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejtd.2020.100169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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