The development of trust and secure attachment is an important fundamental factor fostering infants’ growth and development because of its effects on the child's future developmental outcomes.
THE EFFECT OF SECURE ATTACHMENTS ON CHILDREN’S FUTURE DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOMES
Developing trust and
Erickson, M. F., Sroufe, L. A., & Egeland, B. (1985). The relationship between quality of attachment and behavior problems in preschool in a high-risk sample. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 50(1-2), 147–166.
Schaffer, H. R., & Emerson, P. E. (1964). The development of social attachments in infancy. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 1-77.
- Yates, T. M., Egeland, B., & Sroufe, L. A. (2003) Rethinking resilience; A developmental process perspective. In Luthar, S. S. (Ed.), Resilience and Vulnerability: Adaptation in the Context of Childhood Adversities (pp. 243–266). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
Research has found that the securely attached child, with positive expectations of self and others, is more likely to “approach the world with confidence", because "when children’s attachment needs are met, they are freer to play, discover, move freely, pay attention, learn and relate to others more easily. When caregivers fulfil children’s dependency needs, the children become more independent. When faced with alarming situations, the securely attached child is likely to tackle them more effectively or seek help in doing so.”
A longitudinal research study conducted in Minnesota, USA, found that children with secure attachment at 12 or 18 months sought help from their parents when they could not succeed in the completion of the task when they were assessed at 24 months, 36 and 38 months. These children were enthusiastic and did not display high levels of anger or frustration. Children who had histories of
5.Erickson, M. F., Sroufe, L. A., & Egeland, B. (1985). The relationship between quality of attachment and behavior problems in preschool in a high-risk sample. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 50(1-2), 147–166.
This longitudinal study, which followed 180 children from birth to 34 years old, also found that children with secure attachments before 18 months were more empathic, had better peer relationships and were more flexible in their problem-solving abilities at age four and older. They were also more socially competent all the way into adulthood.
Other studies have also demonstrated that children who developed secure attachments with their caregivers during infancy showed better outcomes in social development during childhood and adolescence, such as in the areas of empathy Kestenbaum, R., Farber, E., Ellen, A., & Sroufe L. A. (1989). Individual differences in empathy among preschoolers: Relation to attachment history. New Directions for Child Development, 44, 51-64. Sroufe, L. A. (1983). Infant-caregiver attachment and patterns of adaptation in preschool: The roots of maladaptation and competence. Minnesota Symposia on Child Psychology, 16, 41-83. Sroufe, L. A. (1983). Infant-caregiver attachment and patterns of adaptation in preschool: The roots of maladaptation and competence. Minnesota Symposia on Child Psychology, 16, 41-83. Thompson, R. A. (2008). Early attachment and later development: Familiar questions, new answers. In: Cassidy J, Shaver PR, eds. Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications. 2nd Ed. New York: Guilford Press, 348- 365. Egeland, B. & Carlson, B. (2004). Attachment and psychopathology. In: Atkinson L, Goldberg S, eds. Attachment issues in psychopathology and intervention. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum, 27-48. Lyons-Ruth, K., Easterbrooks, M. A, & Cibelli, C. D. (1997). Infant attachment strategies, infant mental lag, and maternal depressive symptoms: Predictors of internalizing and externalizing problems at age 7. Developmental Psychology, 33(4), 681-692.