This study analyzed the relation of children`s attachment security and mother-child interaction to children`s peer interactions. The subjects were 51 preschoolers, 44 to 57 months of age and their mothers. Attachment was assessed using the Attachment ...
This study analyzed the relation of children`s attachment security and mother-child interaction to children`s peer interactions. The subjects were 51 preschoolers, 44 to 57 months of age and their mothers. Attachment was assessed using the Attachment Q-set (Waters, 1987), mother-child interactions at home were observed with the use of the Teaching Strategies Rating Scales (Erickson, Sroufe, Egeland, 1985), and peer interactions were observed during free play time, using the Holloway and Erickson(1988) categories. Pearson correlation and multiple regression showed that attachment security scores were negatively related to dependency toward peers. Mother`s structure and limit setting and respect for child`s autonomy were positively related to helping with peers and negatively to asking for help and physical attack. The variables accounting for dependency toward peers were mother`s hostility and attachment security.