Precursors and behavioral correlates of preschoolers’ attachment representations: Links to fathers’ and mothers’ states of mind and behavioral sensitivity

Background: Many gaps exist regarding intergenerational transmission of attachment at preschool-age when narrative attachment measures first become available for children. We aimed to examine (1) concordance between parent and preschoolers’ attachment representations, (2) parental sensitivity during parent-child interactions as a potential proximate mechanism of intergenerational attachment transmission, and (3) the degree to which patterns of effects may vary as function of parent gender at this age. Methods: Our sample comprised 104 5-year-olds (53 girls) and one of their respective parents (n=52 mothers and n=52 fathers). We collected the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) from parents and a novel adaptation of the story-completion method (Picture-based Story-Stem Battery; PSSB). Parent and child narratives were scored from transcripts using coding systems by Main and colleagues for AAIs and by Hill and colleagues and Robinson and colleagues for story completions. Parental behavioral sensitivity was rated using the NICHD Sensitivity Scales. Results and Conclusions: Parental attachment security and behavioral sensitivity were associated with child security. Mediation analysis supported an indirect path from parental insecure-dismissing AAI-classification to child insecurity via reduced sensitivity. Parent gender-specific analyses yielded effect sizes that were stronger (though still statistically comparable) for paths from maternal vs. paternal security and sensitivity to child security.