Study Notes on Attachment Classifications

Authors: Howard Steele, Miriam Steele, Peter Fonagy
Source: Child Development, Apr. 1996, Vol. 67, No. 2, pp. 541-555
Published by: Wiley on behalf of the Society for Research in Child Development
Context: Examines how attachment classifications of parents affect their infants in attachment patterns.

Predictive values of Adult Attachment Interviews (AAIs):
- Mothers' AAIs significantly predict infant-mother attachment as measured by the Strange Situation Procedure (SSP):
- Chi-square (X^2 = 41.87), N = 96, df = 9, p < .0001
- Fathers' AAIs predict infant-father attachment similarly:
- Chi-square (X^2 = 18.94), N = 90, df = 6, p < .005
Predictive power is dampened by not being able to predict insecure-resistant attachment in mothers and absence with fathers.
Notably, infant-father attachment classifications showed association with infant-mother classifications:
- Chi-square (X^2 = 3.78), N = 90, df = 1, p < .05.

The Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) developed by George, Kaplan, and Main in 1985 assesses adult attachments based on narratives concerning childhood.
Citations for prior longitudinal studies:
- MAin et al. (1985), Grossmann et al. (1988), Ainsworth & Eichberg (1991) - significant connections between adult attachment styles and infant-mother attachment.

Initial studies revealed strong correlations between mothers' AAI classifications and infant-mother attachment assessments.
Weak correlations observed for fathers, with a call for more rigorous cross-generational examinations.
Previous studies underscore that infant attachment patterns may be influenced by a spectrum of factors, including infant temperament.

Method:
- Included 90 infants assessed in the SSP with both their mother and father, linking AAI classifiers with observed behaviors.
Analysis of Associations:
- Addressed the interactive dependencies between maternal/father classifications and infant attachment outcomes with log-linear modeling.

Sample Characteristics:
- Expectant Mothers: N = 100, Median age 31 years (ages 22-42), predominantly married, educated middle-class.
- Expectant Fathers: N = 100, Median age 33 years, highly homogeneous backgrounds.

Adult Attachment Interview conducted in private settings, ensuring response independence between parents.
Strange Situation Procedure (SSP):
- A 20-minute assessment that identifies secure and insecure attachment via reunion behavior post-separation.

Table 1 - Correlations between infant attachment to mother at 12 months and to father at 18 months reflective of insecure (A), secure (B), disorganized (C).
Table 2 - Highlights AAI classifications (D, E, F, U) qualitative interplay with infant attachment at 1 year.

Statistical analysis demonstrated significant predictive associations (p-values detailed) between parental attachment interviews and infant attachment classifications.
Observed matches of classifications indicated critical intergenerational influence on child-parent attachment behaviors.

Intergenerational Transmission of Attachment:
- Data suggest maternal attachment influences child-father attachment, reinforcing the idea of a primary maternal influence during early development.
Cultural Factors:
- Noted that the current sample is skewed towards middle-class British populations, necessitating caution in generalization of results.
Acknowledgment of possible influences of infant temperament and parenting methodologies on attachment patterns.

Emphasis on diversifying study samples to include varied socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
Establishing clearer connections between infant temperament and attachment classifications.
Potential for therapeutic interventions to enhance attachment security for future generations.