Psychological Development and Education ›› 2012, Vol. 28 ›› Issue (4): 405-412.

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A Cross-lagged Analysis of the Relationship between Parent-Child Attachment and Anxiety Symptoms in Middle Childhood

ZHAO Jin-xia   

  1. School of Education, Linyi University, Linyi 276005
  • Online:2012-07-15 Published:2012-07-15

Abstract: This longitudinal study investigated 472 children of 3rd grade from two ordinary primary schools twice (one year in between) to explore the development of parent-child attachment and anxiety symptoms in middle childhood,as well as the relationships between parent-child attachment and anxiety symptoms by Kerns Attachment Security Scale and Spence Children Anxiety Scale.The results indicated as follows: (1) Both parent-child attachment and anxiety symptoms in mid-childhood existed stability to some extent,and separation anxiety,social phobia,panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder manifested developmental changes.(2) Parent-child attachment correlated negatively and significantly with children's anxiety,which meant that the higher attachment security was,the lower anxiety levels were.(3) Cross-lagged analyses indicated that parent-child attachment influenced children's anxiety,and maternal attachment has short-term effects,but paternal attachment has shortterm and long-term effects on children's anxiety.(4) Secure paternal attachment buffered effectively the negative effect of insecure maternal attachment,but secure maternal attachment did not buffer the negative effect of insecure paternal attachment.

Key words: middle childhood, parent-child attachment, anxiety symptom, cross-lagged analysis

CLC Number: 

  • B844. 1
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