Family risk and early attachment development: The differential role of parental sensitivity
- Family risks are known to be detrimental to children’s attachment development. This study investigated whether parental sensitivity plays different roles in early attachment development in the context of risk: Sensitivity was hypothesized to mediate risk effects on attachment, as well as a moderator that shapes the relation between risk and attachment. Multiple family risks, parental sensitivity (defined as responsivity and supportive presence), and children’s attachment security of 197 infants and toddlers (Mage = 15.25 months) and their caregivers were assessed in a prospective study with a cohort-sequential-design in Germany. Caregivers’ sensitivity served as a mediator of risk effects on attachment as well as a moderator that buffers adverse consequences of risk. Early sensitivity might be relevant in setting the stage for attachment development supporting resilience.
| Author: | Jennifer GerlachORCiD, Judith M. FößelORCiD, Marc VierhausORCiD, Alexandra SannORCiD, Andreas EickhorstORCiDGND, Peter ZimmermannORCiD, Gottfried SpanglerORCiD |
|---|---|
| URN: | urn:nbn:de:bsz:960-opus4-21626 |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.25968/opus-2162 |
| DOI original: | https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.21964 |
| Parent Title (English): | Infant Mental Health Journal |
| Document Type: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Year of Completion: | 2022 |
| Publishing Institution: | Hochschule Hannover |
| Release Date: | 2022/01/24 |
| Tag: | early attachment development; resilience; risk; sensitivity |
| GND Keyword: | Gefahr; Familie; Sensibilität; Eltern; Bindungsfähigkeit; Resilienz; Kind |
| First Page: | 1 |
| Last Page: | 17 |
| Link to catalogue: | 1800051697 |
| Institutes: | Fakultät V - Diakonie, Gesundheit und Soziales |
| DDC classes: | 150 Psychologie |
| 370 Erziehung, Schul- und Bildungswesen | |
| Licence (German): |  Creative Commons - CC BY - Namensnennung 4.0 International |
