title: Direct and indirect relations between parent-child attachments, peer acceptance, and self-esteem for preschool children.
abstract: The present study aims to test Bowlby's suggestions concerning relations between the child's attachment quality with parents and subsequently constructed models of self-worth during early childhood. In most research on this question, attachment with mothers is considered in relation to self-worth but the child's attachment with fathers is not. Neither has the peer group been studied as an influence on child self-esteem, in the context of attachment research. This study addresses these relatively unstudied influences on child self-esteem. Attachment security to mother and father was measured by the Attachment Behavior Q-Set at two and half years of age. At five years of age social acceptance was measured using two sociometric techniques, and the self-esteem with the California Child Q-Sort. Our analyses indicated that security of the attachment to father and peer acceptance are both unique, significant predictors of the childrens' self-esteem. The security of the attachment to mother was also related to child self-esteem but did not emerge as a uniquely significant predictor. Peer acceptance appeared to moderate of the effect of the security of the attachment to father on the self-esteem of children. Our results extend the relatively sparse literature relating early attachments to self-esteem during early childhood.
authors.affiliation: a William James Center for Research , ISPA-Instituto Universitário , Lisbon , Portugal.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: a William James Center for Research , ISPA-Instituto Universitário , Lisbon , Portugal.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veríssimo
authors.affiliation: a William James Center for Research , ISPA-Instituto Universitário , Lisbon , Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gatinho
authors.affiliation: a William James Center for Research , ISPA-Instituto Universitário , Lisbon , Portugal.
authors.forename: António J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: b Human Development & Family Studies , Auburn University , Auburn , AL , USA.
authors.forename: Brian E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Vaughn
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010379:Peer Group; D011779:Q-Sort; D012649:Self Concept; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Self esteem; attachment to father; attachment to mother; peer acceptance; preschool