title: Attachment-based assessments of parent-child relationships in middle childhood.
abstract: Although a number of measures have been developed to assess parent-child attachments, validity data on middle-childhood measures are lacking. The present study tested attachment-based measures of parent-child relationships designed for the later middle-childhood years (9-12 years of age). Self-reports from children assessed perceptions of security and avoidant and preoccupied coping. Some children also completed a projective interview assessing attachment state of mind. Mothers and fathers reported their willingness to serve as an attachment figure and were rated for responsiveness. Data were collected from a cross-sectional sample of 3rd and 6th graders and their parents. A 2-year follow-up on the younger sample provided data on the stability of the measures. There were modest associations across the different measures and moderate to high stability. The attachment-based measures were also related to teacher ratings of children's school adaptation.
authors.affiliation: Kent State U.
authors.forename: Kathryn A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kerns
authors.forename: Patricia L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Tomich
authors.forename: Jeffery E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Aspelmeier
authors.forename: Josefina M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Contreras
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010553:Personality Development; D011594:Psychometrics