Parental support and insecure attachment development: the cortisol stress response as a moderator. Issue 1 (2nd January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Houbrechts, M.; Cuyvers, B.; Goossens, L.; Bijttebier, P.; Bröhl, A. S.; Calders, F.; Chubar, V.; Claes, S.; Geukens, F.; Van Leeuwen, K.; Noortgate, W. Van Den; Weyn, S.; Bosmans, G.
• Is Part Of: Attachment & human development. Volume 25:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 104
• Page End: 116
• Publication Date: 2023-01-02
• Subjects: Attachment -- longitudinal -- early adolescence -- cortisol stress response -- parental support; Attachment behavior -- Periodicals; Developmental psychology -- Periodicals; 155.418
• DOI: 10.1080/14616734.2021.1907968
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-6734

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The current study investigated whether variations at the level of the cortisol stress response moderate the association between parental support and attachment development. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a one-year longitudinal study with two waves in which 101 children (56% girls, M age = 11.15, SD age = 0.70) participated. Attachment anxiety and avoidance were measured at baseline (Wave 1) and one year later (Wave 2). Parental support and children's cortisol stress response during the Trier Social Stress Test were measured at Wave 2. Children's cortisol stress response was found to moderate the association between parental support and relative change in anxious attachment. A strong cortisol stress response weakened the associated between parental support and relative change in anxious attachment. No moderation effects were found for relative change in avoidant attachment.