The significance of insecure attachment and disorganization in the development of children's externalizing behavior: a meta-analytic study.
This study addresses the extent to which insecure and disorganized attachments increase risk for externalizing problems using meta-analysis. From 69 samples (N = 5,947), the association between insecurity and externalizing problems was significant, d = 0.31 (95% CI: 0.23, 0.40). Larger effects were found for boys (d = 0.35), clinical samples (d = 0.49), and from observation-based outcome assessments (d = 0.58). Larger effects were found for attachment assessments other than the Strange Situation. Overall, disorganized children appeared at elevated risk (d = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.18, 0.50), with weaker effects for avoidance (d = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.21) and resistance (d = 0.11, 95% CI: -0.04, 0.26). The results are discussed in terms of the potential significance of attachment for mental health.
Fearon
R Pasco
RP
School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, 3 Earley Gate, Whiteknights, Reading RD6 6AL, United Kingdom. p.fearon@reading.ac.uk
Bakermans-Kranenburg
Marian J
MJ
van Ijzendoorn
Marinus H
MH
Lapsley
Anne-Marie
AM
Roisman
Glenn I
GI
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D001010:Anxiety, Separation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009769:Object Attachment; D010552:Personality Assessment; D019962:Reactive Attachment Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors