Disorganized Attachment and Mother-Toddler Interactive Behavior in a Problem-Solving Task

Lindsey M. Forbes, University of Western Ontario
Carey Anne De Oliveira, Child and Parent Resource Institute, London, Ontario
Greg Moran, University of Western Ontario
David R. Pederson, University of Western Ontario

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Poster presented at Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Boston, Massachusetts in March 2007.

Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine emotional and behavioral regulation and Disorganized attachment at 24-months in a high-risk sample of adolescent mother-toddler dyads.

RESULTS: Disorganization was associated with 1)increased toddler negativity and a lower quality of experience and 2)decreased levels of maternal support and assistance during the problem-solving tasks.

CONCLUSION: These findings offer converging support for the suggestion that Disorganized dyads experience marked difficulties in emotional and behavioral regulation.