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Distinguishing the Roles of Parental Autonomy Support and Sensitivity in Predicting Dimensions of Attachment

Gastelle, Marissa

Abstract Details

2018, MA, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychological Sciences.
Research and theory have recognized parenting as a key predictor of parent-child attachment. Research on parenting and attachment has primarily focused on parental sensitivity, but scholars have recently called for the additional investigation of other parenting characteristics, such as autonomy support. Attachment can be considered in terms of safe haven and secure base support. Theoretically, parental sensitivity links most directly to safe haven support and parental autonomy support links most directly to secure base support. I investigated parental sensitivity as a unique predictor of safe haven support and parental autonomy support as a unique predictor of secure base support. Participants included parent-child dyads (N = 92) with children aged 10-14. Parenting was measured observationally from an interaction task and per child report; attachment was measured from an attachment representation interview. Results were mixed. The observational measures were unrelated to attachment measures. Child-reported parental sensitivity was uniquely predictive of safe haven support. Child-reported parental autonomy support was uniquely predictive of secure base support. My findings regarding child report of parenting indicate children’s perceptions of parental autonomy support in addition to parental sensitivity are important to understanding the development of parent-child attachment. I explore potential explanations (e.g. conceptual and methodological concerns) for the lack of significant associations with the observational measures.
Kathryn Kerns, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Josefina Grau, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Manfred van Dulmen, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Christopher Flessner, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
43 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Gastelle, M. (2018). Distinguishing the Roles of Parental Autonomy Support and Sensitivity in Predicting Dimensions of Attachment [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1524135169707352

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Gastelle, Marissa. Distinguishing the Roles of Parental Autonomy Support and Sensitivity in Predicting Dimensions of Attachment. 2018. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1524135169707352.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Gastelle, Marissa. "Distinguishing the Roles of Parental Autonomy Support and Sensitivity in Predicting Dimensions of Attachment." Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1524135169707352

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)