Maternal Representation of the Mother-Child Relationship as Related to Mother-Child Attachment

This study examined mothers' conceptualizations of their relationships with their children in relation to the quality of their attachment with them. In a brief interview, 58 mothers were asked about their satisfaction with their relationship with their child and with a non-attachment topic (div...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author Burton, Holly A
Format Report
LanguageEnglish
Published 1989
Subjects
Ainsworth Strange Situation Procedure
Attachment Behavior
Individual Differences
Infants
Maternal Self Concept
Mother Attitudes
Mothers
Parent Child Relationship
Reliability
Satisfaction
Security (Psychology)
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Summary:This study examined mothers' conceptualizations of their relationships with their children in relation to the quality of their attachment with them. In a brief interview, 58 mothers were asked about their satisfaction with their relationship with their child and with a non-attachment topic (division of household chores). Mother-child attachment was assessed using the Ainsworth Strange Situation Procedure. Results indicated that mothers in secure attachment relationships with their children were rated more truthful, consistent, realistic, complete, clear in terms of meaning, and clear in terms of discourse as they discussed their satisfaction within the mother-child relationship than were mothers in insecure attachment relationships with their children. Significant differences were also found between mothers in anxious-avoidant and anxious-resistant attachment relationships with their children. As expected, no differences in coherency were found between the same mothers in their response to the non-attachment question. (Author/MDM)