Examines cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between late adolescents' parental attachment and emotional disturbance. Specifically, they investigated whether associations between parental attachment and emotional disturbance were less strong for adolescents with romantic partners. Links cross-sectionally, but not longitudinally, between…

Examined extent and function of parental attachments among college seniors. Results from 159 college seniors revealed that characteristics of parental attachment as described by college seniors were positive and associated with self-reports of career maturity. Comparison of descriptions provided by seniors and first-year students revealed no…

Children with secure attachments at 12 and 18 months of age were found to be more empathic and prosocial toward others as preschoolers. (PCB)

Discusses reasons for the lack of attention to cross-sex friendships, and delineates the significance of these close relationships as a focus of analysis for social scientists interested in personal relationships. Explores the nature of cross-sex friendships through a conceptualization of the major relationship challenges that cross-sex friends…

Relations between temperament dimensions and attachment behaviors were evaluated. Results were consistent with previous findings that temperament measures do not predict attachment security. (PCB)

Analyzed attachment relationships of 22 maltreated and 21 nonmaltreated infants of 12 months. Findings indicated a preponderance of disorganized/disoriented (Type D) attachments in the maltreatment group, with boys more likely than girls to be Type D. (RJC)

Examined changes over three annual assessments of perceptions of gay and lesbian couples on current levels of attachment, autonomy, and equality in the relationship; the importance of these factors in an ideal relationship; and relationship commitment. Changes in relationship commitment over time were explained by changes in the discrepancy…

Explored perceptions of children in long-term foster care about their biological family and ideal family representation. Found that subjects related to their foster caregivers as "family," challenging assumptions about the primacy of the biological bond, and that genealogical closeness guarantees socioemotional closeness under all…

Used behavioral observation and maternal reports to examine the relationship of fearfulness/anxiety, attachment security, and maternal discipline with internalization in 103 toddlers. For relatively fearful/anxious children, gentle maternal discipline that deemphasized power predicted internalization. For relatively fearless children, security of…

The stability of adult attachment and transmission of attachment across 3 generations were examined in a longitudinal study of 96 infants, their mothers, and maternal grandmothers. The study found that mothers' Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) classifications were stable over 12 months in 90% of mothers and 73% of grandmothers, using the AAI's…

Observed five-year olds playing with a friend and rated the children on dimensions of relationship using the Dyadic Coding System and the Dyadic Relationships Q-Sort. Found that both measures captured similar variation in friendship quality. Also found a congruence between friendship quality and father-child attachment as previously measured at 13…

Twenty-seven married couples completed Adult Attachment Interview, were rated as secure or insecure with respect to attachment, and completed measures of marital satisfaction. Found that self-reported marhdal satisfaction was not related to adult attachment classifications. Insecure-secure and secure-secure dyads did not differ, but both groups…

Examined differences in trust and self-disclosure associated with secure, anxious/ambivalent, and avoidant attachment. Findings from 98 undergraduate students revealed that, in general, subjects who reported themselves as securely attached also reported, in comparison with avoidant attachment, higher levels of trust in partner, amount of…

Examined the influence of social context variables on separation responses in nine-month-old infants. Indicated that nine month olds need not be highly stressed by being put in a new setting with a substitute caregiver. Use of procedures practiced in a model day care program effectively buffeted infant stress responses under individual and group…

Attachment theory provides a framework for understanding children's relationships to their primary and secondary caregivers. The theory describes how secure attachment bonds are formed between children and caregivers and the consequences of both secure and insecure attachment relationships. Recommendations for putting attachment theory into…