title: The significance of insecure and disorganized attachment for children's internalizing symptoms: a meta-analytic study.
abstract: This meta-analytic review examines the association between attachment and internalizing symptomatology during childhood, and compares the strength of this association with that for externalizing symptomatology. Based on 42 independent samples (N = 4,614), the association between insecurity and internalizing symptoms was small, yet significant (d = 0.15, CI 0.06~0.25) and not moderated by assessment age of internalizing problems. Avoidance, but not resistance (d = 0.03, CI -0.11~0.17) or disorganization (d = 0.08, CI -0.06~0.22), was significantly associated with internalizing symptoms (d = 0.17, CI 0.03~0.31). Insecurity and disorganization were more strongly associated with externalizing than internalizing symptoms. Discussion focuses on the significance of attachment for the development of internalizing versus externalizing symptomatology.
authors.affiliation: Department, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 603 E. Daniel Street, Champaign, IL 61820, USA. amgroh2@illinois.edu
authors.forename: Ashley M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Groh
authors.forename: Glenn I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Roisman
authors.forename: Marinus H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: van Ijzendoorn
authors.forename: Marian J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bakermans-Kranenburg
authors.forename: R Pasco
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Fearon
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000367:Age Factors; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D019962:Reactive Attachment Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D013223:Statistics as Topic