Parent–child attachment as a mechanism of intergenerational (dis)advantage. (30th July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moullin, Sophie; Waldfogel, Jane; Washbrook, Elizabeth
• Is Part Of: Families, relationships and societies. Volume 7:Number 2(2018)
• Page Start: 265
• Page End: 284
• Publication Date: 2018-07-30
• Subjects: ATTACHMENT -- INTERGENERATIONAL TRANSMISSION -- SOCIO-EMOTIONAL -- NON-COGNITIVE -- PARENTING -- EARLY CHILDHOOD; Families -- Research -- Periodicals; Families -- Periodicals; Intergenerational relations -- Periodicals; 306.805
• DOI: 10.1332/204674317X15071998786492
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-7435

Abstract

Abstract : A growing literature connects childhood socio-emotional skills to adult socio-economic outcomes. But what explains differing levels of socio-emotional skills? Current theories consider parental investment and socialisation, but neglect the emotional and relational aspects of parenting. Attachment theory offers a model of the micro-level mechanisms that connect parenting processes and socio-emotional development intergenerationally. It has, however, tended to de-emphasise macro, contextual socio-economic factors. Through an extensive, integrative review of the empirical literature on the effects and antecedents of parent–child attachment, we argue that attachment is a mechanism through which socio-emotional – and socio-economic – (dis)advantages persist.