Maternal Social and Physical Contact: Links to Early Infant Attachment Behaviors

Abstract

The relationship between maternal physical and social contact styles and infant attachment behavior under stress and nonstress conditions was studied at 2 different age points during the 1st year of life. The infants (29 girls and 15 boys) and their mothers were observed in their homes at 4 and 7 months of age. Maternal physical and social contact behaviors during an unstructured observation were rated on the Clarke-Stewart Rating Scales. Infant attachment behaviors in semistructured interactions with their mothers and with a stranger were rated on the Attachment Indicators Rating Scale. Scores on all attachment behaviors were subjected to a principal-axes factor analysis with varimax rotation, and one-way analyses of variance were conducted to assess effects of maternal social and physical contact at 4 and 7 months. A significant link was found between maternal physical contact at 4 months and the infant's attachment behavior under conditions of stress and play at both 4 and 7 months. Maternal social contact at 4 months was linked to attachment behavior in play situations, but not in stress situations. By the age of 7 months, the infants' attachment behavior under both stress and play conditions was linked to concurrent social and physical maternal contact. Maternal physical and social contacts at 4 and 7 months were linked to concurrent infant proximal attachment behavior, but such contacts at 4 months were not predictive of later infant proximal behaviors. These findings suggest that the relationship between the intensity and style of maternal contact and infant attachment behavior varies with age.

Affectionate Touch to Promote Relational, Psychological, and Physical Well-Being in Adulthood: A Theoretical Model and Review of the Research

“…Finally, research has shown that when individuals receive affectionate touch from their romantic partners, they subsequently report that they feel “close to, secure with, cared for, and understood” by their partners (Debrot, Schoebi, Perrez, & Horn, 2013, p. 1376). Touch in infancy and childhood similarly promotes security (Anisfeld, Casper, Noyzce, & Cunningham, 1990; Duhn, 2010; Gurol & Polat, 2012; Hertenstein & Campos, 2001; Korja et al, 2008; Lowinger, Dimitrovsky, Strauss, & Mogilner, 1995; Miyake, Chen, & Campos, 1985; Weiss, Wilson, Hertenstein, & Campos, 2000).…”

Emotional Transfer in Human–Horse Interaction: New Perspectives on Equine Assisted Interventions

“…Physical contact and emotional reactivity represent the emotional channels connecting the subjects (see [77,78] for humans and [20,21] for animals). In their recent review, Payne et al [21] gave an extensive summary on human-animal physical contact (I), underlined its pivotal role in bond formation according to the 'human attachment theory' [42,79,80]. In particular, petting and scratching have been found to actively reduce heart rate and fear indicators in horses [81] and dogs [82], even if provided by unfamiliar humans.…”

Enuresis, Early Attachment and Intimacy

“…Maternal sensitivity is crucial to the development of attachment. The mother's state of mind regarding attachment, and maternal behaviour towards the infant, may have a significant impact on the organization of the infant's attachment behaviour (Ward & Carlson 1995;Lowinger et al 1995). Infants seek to`teach' their parents about the specific behaviours which they require to establish a secure base.…”

“…Bodily contact with the mother provides an essential source of comfort, security and worth for the infant. Intimacy is part of a successful breast-feeding experience, and a significant link was found between maternal physical contact at four months of age and the infant's attachment behaviour with`touch of skin' as an especially vital characteristic and component of intimacy (Dignam 1995;Lowinger et al 1995). The interaction between mother and infant is therefore characteristic of intimacy, described as an exchange in which the discloser must feel understood, validated and cared for by the listener.…”