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The Longitudinal Link Between Parenting and Child Aggression: The Moderating Effect of Attachment Security

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Abstract

This study examined whether infant attachment security moderates the association between parenting in preschool and later aggressive behavior among a sample of children at high risk for developing conduct problems. Participants were 82 adolescent mother–child dyads recruited from the community. Infant attachment status at age 1 year was measured using the Strange Situation. When children were aged 4.5 years, mothers reported on their self-efficacy in regards to parenting, and mothers’ positive parenting and criticism were coded from direct observations of parent–child interactions. In grade 1, mothers reported on their children’s aggressive behavior. Infant secure attachment significantly moderated the association between observed maternal criticism and child aggression. That is, among insecurely attached children, higher levels of maternal criticism were associated with more severe aggression. This longitudinal finding suggests that a secure attachment may buffer the deleterious effects of harsh parenting on child aggression.

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Notes

  1. The regression analysis involving maternal criticism was re-run using the skewed scores from the full sample (N = 82), and the pattern of the results remained the same.

  2. The interaction effect remained significant when CBCL subscale scores at 4.5 years old (i.e., withdrawn, somatic complaints, anxious/depressed, social problems, thought problems, attention problems, delinquent behavior, and aggressive behavior) were controlled for (p = .02).

  3. The regression analyses were re-run using the multiple imputation function on SPSS and the pattern of the results remained the same. However, due to the patterns of missingness in this sample, the results based on imputed data are not formally reported.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Grants MCJ-550535 and MCJ-530589 from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (Title V, Social Security Act), Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, awarded to Susan J. Spieker and Robert J. McMahon.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada

    Maeve Cyr, Dave S. Pasalich & Robert J. McMahon

  2. Child and Family Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada

    Dave S. Pasalich & Robert J. McMahon

  3. Department of Family and Child Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Susan J. Spieker

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  1. Maeve Cyr
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  2. Dave S. Pasalich
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  4. Susan J. Spieker
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Correspondence to Maeve Cyr.

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Cyr, M., Pasalich, D.S., McMahon, R.J. et al. The Longitudinal Link Between Parenting and Child Aggression: The Moderating Effect of Attachment Security. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 45, 555–564 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-013-0424-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-013-0424-4

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