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Broadening the Study of Infant Security of Attachment: Maternal Autonomy-support in the Context of Infant Exploration
Article first published online: 8 FEB 2010
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9507.2010.00574.x
© Blackwell Publishing Ltd. 2010
Additional Information
How to Cite
Whipple, N., Bernier, A. and Mageau, G. A. (2011), Broadening the Study of Infant Security of Attachment: Maternal Autonomy-support in the Context of Infant Exploration. Social Development, 20: 17–32. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9507.2010.00574.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 8 FEB 2010
- Article first published online: 8 FEB 2010
- Abstract
- Article
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Keywords:
- Infant security of attachment;
- infant exploration;
- maternal autonomy-support;
- maternal sensitivity
Abstract
Although security of attachment is conceptualised as a balance between infants' attachment and exploratory behaviours, parental behaviours pertaining to infant exploration have received relatively little empirical attention. Drawing from self-determination theory, this study seeks to improve the prediction of infant attachment by assessing maternal autonomy-support during infant exploration, in addition to maternal sensitivity. Seventy-one dyads participated in two home visits. Maternal sensitivity was assessed when the infants were 12 months old, whereas maternal autonomy-support and infant attachment were assessed at 15 months. The results revealed that autonomy-support explained an additional portion of the variance in attachment when maternal socioeconomic status and sensitivity were controlled. These results speak to the relevance of a theory-driven approach to examining maternal behaviours in the context of child exploration.