Understanding the Link between Maternal Adult Attachment Classifications and Thoughts and Feelings about Emotions

Authors

Carey Anne DeOliveira, Child and Parent Resource InstituteFollow
Greg Moran, University of Western OntarioFollow
David R. Pederson, University of Western OntarioFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-2005

Journal

Attachment & Human Development

Volume

7

Issue

2

First Page

153

Last Page

170

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between maternal representations of attachment, as assessed with the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI; George, Kaplan, & Main, 1996), and mothers' thoughts and feelings about their own emotions and emotions emerging in their toddlers. Eighty-nine adolescent mothers completed the AAI and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D; Radloff, 1977) and Katz, Gottman, Shapiro, and Carrere's (1997) meta-emotion interview for parents of toddlers. Autonomous mothers demonstrated the most open and flexible mindset around a variety of emotions in themselves and their toddlers. Dismissing mothers exhibited a tendency to minimize internalizing emotions in themselves and their children, while unresolved mothers described the most emotion regulatory difficulties.

Notes

Published in: Attachment & Human Development, Volume 7, Issue 2, June 2005, pages 153-170. DOI: 10.1080/14616730500135032