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Infant attachment security and maternal predictors of early behavior problems: A longitudinal study of low-income families

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Abstract

In a longitudinal study of 100 low-income, mother-infant dyads, assessments of infant attachment security and maternal responsivity, involvement, depressive symptomatology, and perceived infant difficulty were used to predict later behavior problems at age 3. Attachment insecurity was related to behavior problems at age 3 when all insecure classifications were combined into one group and when insecurity was maintained at 12 and 18 months. For boys only, maternal depressive symptoms and low maternal involvement were associated with age 3 behavior problems. For girls, perceived difficult temperament at ages 1 and 2 were associated with later problem behavior.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, 15260, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Daniel S. Shaw Ph.D.

  2. Department of Psychology in Education, University of Pittsburgh, 15260, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Joan I. Vondra

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  1. Daniel S. Shaw Ph.D.
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  2. Joan I. Vondra
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Additional information

The authors are indebted to Richard Bell for reading drafts of the manuscript, and the many graduate and undergraduate staff members who assisted in data collection. The study was supported by grants to Daniel Shaw and Joan Vondra from the following organizations within the University of Pittsburgh: the Mental Health Clinical Research Center for Affective Disorders, the Central Research Development Fund, the Office of Child Development, the School of Education in conjunction with the Buhl Foundation, and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

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Shaw, D.S., Vondra, J.I. Infant attachment security and maternal predictors of early behavior problems: A longitudinal study of low-income families. J Abnorm Child Psychol 23, 335–357 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01447561

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01447561

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