title: Early mother-child attachment and behavior problems in middle childhood: the role of the subsequent caregiving environment.
abstract: The current study investigated associations between early mother-child attachment, as well as mother-child and teacher-child relationships, and internalizing and externalizing behaviors in middle childhood. Data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development were used. Findings from a series of individual growth curve analyses revealed that attachment security was negatively related to internalizing and externalizing behaviors, while insecure/other and avoidant attachment were positively related to internalizing behaviors. In addition, longitudinal associations were found between mother-child and teacher-child relationships and internalizing and externalizing behaviors across middle childhood. Implications for attachment theory are discussed.
authors: a Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development , New York University , New York , NY , USA.
authors: Erin E
authors: EE
authors: O'Connor
authors: Marc A
authors: MA
authors: Scott
authors: Meghan P
authors: MP
authors: McCormick
authors: Sharon L
authors: SL
authors: Weinberg
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009769:Object Attachment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: behaviors; middle childhood; mother–child attachment; mother–child relationships; teacher–child relationships