Developmental Patterns in Security of Attachment to Mother and Father in Late Childhood and Early Adolescence: Associations with Peer Relations

TLDR

The study investigated how developmental changes in parental availability and child dependency on parents relate to peer relationships in late childhood and early adolescence. Researchers assessed attachment security in 274 late‑childhood and 267 early‑adolescent children, measuring parental availability and child dependency on parents. Results showed that while perceptions of maternal availability and boys’ perceptions of paternal availability did not vary with age, parental dependency decreased with age; attachment to both parents predicted positive friendship qualities and lower conflict, especially paternal availability, indicating that parent–child attachment quality generalizes to close peer relations.

Abstract

This study examined developmental differences in two dimensions of attachment security (parental availability and child dependency on parents) in late childhood ( N = 274) and early adolescence ( N = 267) and their association with peer relations. Children's perceptions of mother's availability and boys' perceptions of father's availability did not differ as a function of age. Dependency on parents, however, decreased with age. Findings highlight the importance of distinguishing between parental availability and reliance on parental help when measuring attachment developmentally. Children's reports of positive friendship qualities and lack of conflict in their best friendships were related to attachment to both mother and father, whereas the presence of a reciprocated friendship and popularity were not. Father availability was a particularly important predictor of lower conflict with best friends. Findings indicate that the quality of parent–child attachment generalizes primarily to the quality of children's close peer relations.