Early toddler-parent attachment as a predictor of the quality of children’s friendship in middle childhood
The central premise of the attachment theory is that attachment security and the model of early child-parent relationship is reflected in the child’s interpersonal relationships across the life span, including his/her friendships. The child-parent relationship at different developmental stages is th...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Slovenian Psychologists' Association
2021-02-01
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Series: | Psihološka Obzorja |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://psiholoska-obzorja.si/arhiv_clanki/2021/cermak_marjanovic-umek.pdf |
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author | Nika Čermak Ljubica Marjanovič Umek |
author_facet | Nika Čermak Ljubica Marjanovič Umek |
author_sort | Nika Čermak |
collection | DOAJ |
description | The central premise of the attachment theory is that attachment security and the model of early child-parent relationship is reflected in the child’s interpersonal relationships across the life span, including his/her friendships. The child-parent relationship at different developmental stages is thus considered one of the most important predictors of social development in children. The present study examined the longitudinal connection between early attachment of toddlers and the quality of their friendships in middle childhood. The sample consisted of 129 toddlers (52% boys), from which 118 participated in the second wave of data collection. Toddler attachment was assessed with Attachment Q-sort at the age of 15 months, while friendship quality at 9 years was assessed using three measures, namely a self-report, observations and a sociometric measure. We found a significant correlation between attachment and observed friendship quality, while attachment was not directly related to self-reported friendship quality and number of reciprocal friendships. Furthermore, we examined links between attachment and friendship quality by proposing a path model. Individual quality of child interaction was found to be a significant mediator of the path from attachment security to later peer competence, as reflected in the number of reciprocal friendships. Significant, but moderate correlations suggest a moderate effect of secure attachment on friendship quality in middle childhood. |
first_indexed | 2024-12-20T03:30:39Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-bc7f66515f4f42d29ba3dd8ad179e51b |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2350-5141 2350-5141 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-12-20T03:30:39Z |
publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
publisher | Slovenian Psychologists' Association |
record_format | Article |
series | Psihološka Obzorja |
spelling | doaj.art-bc7f66515f4f42d29ba3dd8ad179e51b2022-12-21T19:54:59ZengSlovenian Psychologists' AssociationPsihološka Obzorja2350-51412350-51412021-02-013011010.20419/2021.30.525Early toddler-parent attachment as a predictor of the quality of children’s friendship in middle childhoodNika ČermakLjubica Marjanovič UmekThe central premise of the attachment theory is that attachment security and the model of early child-parent relationship is reflected in the child’s interpersonal relationships across the life span, including his/her friendships. The child-parent relationship at different developmental stages is thus considered one of the most important predictors of social development in children. The present study examined the longitudinal connection between early attachment of toddlers and the quality of their friendships in middle childhood. The sample consisted of 129 toddlers (52% boys), from which 118 participated in the second wave of data collection. Toddler attachment was assessed with Attachment Q-sort at the age of 15 months, while friendship quality at 9 years was assessed using three measures, namely a self-report, observations and a sociometric measure. We found a significant correlation between attachment and observed friendship quality, while attachment was not directly related to self-reported friendship quality and number of reciprocal friendships. Furthermore, we examined links between attachment and friendship quality by proposing a path model. Individual quality of child interaction was found to be a significant mediator of the path from attachment security to later peer competence, as reflected in the number of reciprocal friendships. Significant, but moderate correlations suggest a moderate effect of secure attachment on friendship quality in middle childhood.http://psiholoska-obzorja.si/arhiv_clanki/2021/cermak_marjanovic-umek.pdfattachment behaviorfriendshippeer relationspsychosocial developmentlongitudinal studies |
spellingShingle | Nika Čermak Ljubica Marjanovič Umek Early toddler-parent attachment as a predictor of the quality of children’s friendship in middle childhood Psihološka Obzorja attachment behavior friendship peer relations psychosocial development longitudinal studies |
title | Early toddler-parent attachment as a predictor of the quality of children’s friendship in middle childhood |
title_full | Early toddler-parent attachment as a predictor of the quality of children’s friendship in middle childhood |
title_fullStr | Early toddler-parent attachment as a predictor of the quality of children’s friendship in middle childhood |
title_full_unstemmed | Early toddler-parent attachment as a predictor of the quality of children’s friendship in middle childhood |
title_short | Early toddler-parent attachment as a predictor of the quality of children’s friendship in middle childhood |
title_sort | early toddler parent attachment as a predictor of the quality of children s friendship in middle childhood |
topic | attachment behavior friendship peer relations psychosocial development longitudinal studies |
url | http://psiholoska-obzorja.si/arhiv_clanki/2021/cermak_marjanovic-umek.pdf |
work_keys_str_mv | AT nikacermak earlytoddlerparentattachmentasapredictorofthequalityofchildrensfriendshipinmiddlechildhood AT ljubicamarjanovicumek earlytoddlerparentattachmentasapredictorofthequalityofchildrensfriendshipinmiddlechildhood |