Families experiencing divorce: age at onset of overnight stays, conflict, and emotional availability as predictors of child attachment
Date
2008
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Abstract
This study examined the qualities that contribute to post-divorce child attachment in a sample of 24 divorcing mothers and their children, ages 12 to 73 months in the context of shared parenting time arrangements. Child attachment was assessed using Waters' Attachment Q-set (AQS). Qualities such as age at onset of overnight stays, inter-parental conflict and communication, and emotional availability were examined for their importance in attachment security and dependency. Study hypotheses were partially supported. While the study variables collectively did not predict attachment security and dependency outcomes, as hypothesized, the predictor variable of Emotional Availability (EA) Child Involvement proved significantly related with AQS Security. Children who involved their mothers more in interaction were more secure with them. Further, EA Child Involvement contributed to attachment outcomes above and beyond age of onset of overnight stays and parent and partner contributions to inter-parental conflict.
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Subject
attachment
child attachment
divorce
emotional availability
families
overnight stays
developmental psychology