The Uniqueness of the Child–Father Attachment Relationship: Fathers’ Sensitive and Challenging Play as a Pivotal Variable in a 16‐year Longitudinal Study

Abstract

This longitudinal study of forty-four families explored fathers' as compared to mothers' specific contribution to their children's attachment representation at ages 6, 10, and 16 years. In toddlerhood, fathers' and mothers' play sensitivity was evaluated with a new assessment, the sensitive and challenging interactive play scale (SCIP). Fathers' SCIP scores were predicted by fathers' caregiving quality during the first year, were highly consistent across 4 years, and were closely linked to the fathers' own internal working model of attachment. Qualities of attachment as assessed in the Strange Situation to both parents were antecedents for children's attachment security in the Separation Anxiety Test at age 6. Fathers' play sensitivity and infant-mother quality of attachment predicted children's internal working model of attachment at age 10, but not vice versa. Dimensions of adolescents' attachment representations were predicted by fathers' play sensitivity only. The results confirmed our main assumption that fathers' play sensitivity is a better predictor of the child's long-term attachment representation than the early infant-father security of attachment. The ecological validity of measuring fathers' sensitive and challenging interactive play behavior as compared to infant proximity seeking in times of distress is highlighted. Findings are discussed with respect to a wider view on attachment in that both parents shape their children's psychological security but each in his or her unique way.

Fathers' Depression Related to Positive and Negative Parenting Behaviors With 1-Year-Old Children

“…First, fathers' interactive play during toddlerhood has been longitudinally associated with attachment security in later childhood and adolescence. 17 Second, fathers' speech and language interactions with infants have been positively associated with language development, and paternal depression has been shown to adversely impact this process. [18][19][20] Third, discipline practices, such as corporal punishment, have been longitudinally associated with increased child aggressive behavior.…”

An impact and feasibility evaluation of a six-week (nine hour) active play intervention on fathers’ engagement with their preschool children: a feasibility study

“…Research has consistently demonstrated the benefits of father involvement, particularly during the child's early development e.g., language acquisition, motor skills, and social skills thus leading to positive outcomes for the child in their teenage and adult years (Flouri, 2005;Grossman et al, 2002). A number of studies have established that children who do not live with their biological father are at a greater risk of depression, low self-esteem, substance abuse, and poor performance in school when compared to their counterparts who live with both their mother and father (Antecol & Bedard, 2007;Cowan, Cowan, Pruett, Pruett, & Wong, 2009).…”

Coordenação entre o modelo dinâmico interno da mãe e o comportamento de base segura dos seus filhos

“…Se no início da formulação da teoria da vinculação por Bowlby (1972Bowlby ( , 1982, a psicologia cognitiva era um campo de estudo relativamente recente, actualmente esta área do conhecimento tem tido enormes progressos permitindo a transição da investigação baseada apenas na avaliação dos comportamentos observados em contexto naturalista (AQS) ou em situação laboratorial (Situação Estranha), para o nível da representação (H. Waters, Rodrigues & Ridgeway, 1998). Um elemento central e actual no estudo da vinculação é o de que a representação cognitiva que os pais têm da relação de vinculação é um factor que medeia a qualidade da prestação dos cuidados/de interacção que estabelecem com os seus filhos, o que se reflecte na qualidade de vinculação das crianças (Bretherton, 1985;Main, Kaplan & Cassidy, 1985;Posada, Waters, Crowell, & Lay, 1995;Grossmann et al, 2002;Tini, Corcoran, Rodrigues-Doolabh, & Waters, 2003). A teoria prevê que as actuais conceptualizações que os indivíduos têm da vinculação reflictam a organização do seu modelo interno de vinculação.…”