The mother-infant relationship and infant attachment in a South African peri-urban settlement.
A sample of 147 mother-infant dyads was recruited from a peri-urban settlement outside Cape Town and seen at 2- and 18-months postpartum. At 18 months, 61.9% of the infants were rated as securely attached (B); 4.1% as avoidant (A); 8.2% as resistant (C); and 25.8% disorganized (D). Postpartum depression at 2 months, and indices of poor parenting at both 2 and 18 months, were associated with insecure infant attachment. The critical 2-month predictor variables for insecure infant attachment were maternal intrusiveness and maternal remoteness, and early maternal depression. When concurrent maternal sensitivity was considered, the quality of the early mother-infant relationship remained important, but maternal depression was no longer predictive. Cross-cultural differences and consistencies in the development of attachment are discussed.
Tomlinson
Mark
M
Child Guidance Clinic, University of Cape Town, Chapel Road, Rosebank, Cape Town 7700, South Africa. mtomlins@protem.uct.ac.za
Cooper
Peter
P
Murray
Lynne
L
D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009769:Object Attachment; D013019:South Africa; D014505:Urban Population