Self-understanding in early childhood: associations with child attachment security and maternal negative affect.
Although studies document that young children perceive themselves in psychologically-relevant ways, much remains to be understood about early self-concept development and how it is influenced by relational experience. This longitudinal study examines stability and change in the self-understanding of preschoolers, and its relation to children's security of attachment and maternal negative affect. Thirty-three children were studied with their mothers at ages 4 and 5; children's self-perceptions, attachment security, and maternal negative affect were assessed at each age. Secure attachment at 4 years old was associated with more positive self-concept at 5 years old (even with security at age 5 controlled), and secure children were more consistent in their self-perceptions over time. Maternal negative affect was associated with children's more negative self-perceptions and less consistent self-perceptions over time. Overall, these findings confirm the significance of early relational influences in how young children perceive themselves as psychological beings, particularly the importance of attachment security.
Goodvin
Rebecca
R
Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA. Rebecca.Goodvin@wwu.edu
Meyer
Sara
S
Thompson
Ross A
RA
Hayes
Rachel
R
D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009769:Object Attachment; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires