Notes that interest in attachment theory among counselors and researchers has led to development of measures of attachment-related constructs. Presents overview of theoretical foundations of attachment theory as conceptualized by Ainsworth (1989) and Bowlby (1988). Reviews four self-report measures of adolescent and adult attachment. Discusses…

Examined the effects of maternal employment and separation anxiety on maternal interactive behavior and infant attachment in 73 mother-infant pairs. Employed mothers who reported high levels of separation anxiety were more likely than low-anxiety mothers to exhibit intrusive behaviors. Although employment was not directly related to attachment,…

Videotaped 12 breastfeeding mothers and their babies during breastfeeding sessions to investigate maternal-infant interactions occurring during breastfeeding sessions. Presents four case studies to examine differences in breastfeeding interactions, as well as benefits and disadvantages that breastfeeding provided different mother-child pairs. (MM)

This article presents various techniques for improving parent-child relationships during infancy and early childhood. It covers assessment of the parent-infant relationship and discusses interaction-focused intervention, which involves sensitivity to social cues, reciprocity, and enhancement of quiet states; and knowledge-focused intervention,…

Examined time limited (10 sessions) counseling treatments to explore history of working alliance over time. Two counselors working with four clients reported similar patterns of working alliance development. Initial development phase of working relationship appeared to be followed by period when relationship decays, but it appeared that the…

When choosing permanent homes for foster children, attachment, permanence, and kinship can be used as criteria for selection. Each of these criteria represents an established value in child welfare theory. Reports a case study of three siblings entering adoption in which the three criteria formed the basis for a placement recommendation that…

Mothers and fathers of 62 children were seen separately in the Strange Situation procedure, and their caregiving behaviors were separately assessed using several measures. Results revealed only one effect, that mothers of securely attached children were more responsive to their children than other mothers. (BC)

Mothers of secure one year olds were more sensitively responsive to their infants at one and four months and less rejecting at one and nine months than mothers of insecure infants. Mothers of insecure-resistant one year olds were less sensitively responsive to their infants at one month than were mothers of secure and insecure-avoidant infants.…

Reviews and critiques three self-report measures of parent-adolescent attachment (Parental Bonding Instrument, Parental Attachment Questionnaire, Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment) and three self-report measures of parent-adolescent separation-individuation (Psychological Separation Inventory, Personal Authority in the Family System…

Reviews literature on attachment process between adopted children and their mothers. Explains empirical research in relation to Bowlby's theoretical formulation of attachment, basic thesis of which is that infants develop affectional bonds at specific ages of their development and, therefore, child's age at time of adoption is important…

Attempted to replicate findings of a previous study which found that mother-toddler interaction during problem solving was related to the child's prior attachment security. Examined the relationship between problem-solving interactions on the one hand, and mother-child interactions at home and infant temperament on the other. (PCB)

Self-report data from 157 college students show that, in general, more secure attachments were positively related to support-seeking and active problem-solving coping styles and to females', but not males', tendency to explain hypothetical successes and failures in a positive or self-enhancing manner. Sex differences in security of attachments are…

Assesses the relationship of parental attachment and gender to appraisals of conflict with parents in an effort to clarify the psychological mechanisms that mediate the relationship between attachment and psychological well being. Students' gender and level of parental attachment may be systematically related to how parental conflicts are…

Describes four studies leading to development of the Perceptions of Parents (POP) measure. POP can be completed by adolescents even if they do not have contact with a parent. Psychometric properties are described. Two factors, positive affect and negative affect, emerged; scores are related to adolescents' psychological adjustment. (Author/EMK)

Defends attachment theory and its relation to parental investment. Misunderstandings of the rationale for Parental Investment in the Child Questionnaire (PIC) and the measurement of attitudes in Sharon Hays's article are discussed. Parental and cultural issues are discussed with particular attention to data on fathers and applicability across…