Mothers' Working Models of Attachment Relationships and Mother and Child Behavior During Separation and Reunion

Associations between mothers'models of attachment and mother and child behaviors surrounding separation were explored. Forty-five mothers were given the Adult Attachment Interview (George, Kaplan, & Main, 1984) and were classified as secure, dismissing, or preoccupied. They were seen with their children, aged 2-4 years, in a laboratory separation-reunion. Mothers were scored on (a) preparation of children for separation, (b) difficulty with separation, and (c) responsiveness to children's emotional cues. Children were scored on comfort with separation and reunion behavior. Results showed that mother behaviors pre- and postseparation varied by attachment classification, as did child reunion behaviors. Path analyses showed differences between attachment classifications in the association between children's comfort during separation and mothers' preseparation behaviors and child avoidance in reunion and mothers' emotional responsiveness.