Mother-child attachment patterns and different types of anxiety symptoms: is there specificity of relations?

Child Psychiatry and Human Development
Laura E Brumariu, Kathryn A Kerns

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test Manassis' proposal (Child-parent relations: Attachment and anxiety disorders, 255-272, 2001) that attachment patterns (secure, ambivalent, avoidant, and disorganized) may relate to different types of anxiety symptoms, and that behavioral inhibition may moderate these relations. Using a story stem interview to assess attachment and children's reports of anxiety symptoms, we found some support for these hypotheses in a sample of 10-12 years olds. Security was related to lower levels of all types of anxieties, except separation anxiety. Ambivalence was positively related to separation anxiety, although this relation was stronger for boys. Although avoidance was not related to anxiety, disorganization was positively related to somatic symptoms, social phobia, and school phobia. Behavioral inhibition moderated the relations of security with social phobia, and of disorganization with school phobia. The findings suggest that it is important to consider specificity between attachment patterns and various types of anxiety symptoms and to recognize that these relations may be altered by other risk factors.

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Citations

Nov 15, 2011·Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review·Catherine C Epkins, David R Heckler
Nov 28, 2012·Child Psychiatry and Human Development·Laura E Brumariu, Kathryn A Kerns
Mar 22, 2016·Journal of Child and Family Studies·Justin ParentRex Forehand
Apr 17, 2012·Depression and Anxiety·Yi JinyaoYao Shuqiao
Nov 13, 2015·Praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie·Sandra AchtergardeGeorg Romer
Oct 17, 2014·Child Psychiatry and Human Development·Tea AgerupAnne Mari Sund
Oct 25, 2016·Journal of Affective Disorders·Michelle G NewmanAndrea R Zuellig
Mar 25, 2014·Child Development Perspectives·Kathryn A Kerns, Laura E Brumariu
Oct 2, 2020·The Journal of Genetic Psychology·C PotardF Labrell
Nov 10, 2020·Frontiers in Psychology·Alexe Bilodeau-HouleMarie-France Marin
May 6, 2021·Psychosomatic Medicine·Anne LiLaelia Benoit

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