title: Children's use of transitional objects during daily separations from significant caregivers.
abstract: Attachment behaviors of 105 toddlers were observed as the children separated from significant caregiver(s) at child care. Analysis indicated that children attached to a transitional object and using the object when separating engaged in ritualistic touching behaviors directed at a variety of targets. Results lend some support to the notion of transitional objects facilitating separation and reducing anxiety in mildly stressful situations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Development and Family Relations, School of Human Environmental Sciences, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858-4353.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Triebenbacher
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Tegano
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D002666:Psychology, Child; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology