Linking Mechanisms between Attachment Quality During Infancy and Preschoolers’ Social Competence: Focusing on Continuity of Maternal Parenting Stress, Social Interaction, and Warmth

영아기의 애착안정성과 유아기 사회적 유능성의 관계: 이후 시기 어머니의 양육스트레스와 사회적, 온정적 양육행동의 통합모형 검증

ObjectivesThis study examined an integrated model of maternal parenting stress, social interaction, and warmth as linking mechanisms between preschooler’s attachment quality at age 1 and social competence at age 6.MethodsParticipants were 172 preschoolers (89 boys and 83 girls all aged 6) and their mothers recruited for the in-depth Korea Child Panel Study.ResultsAttachment security at age 1 indirectly affected preschoolers’ social competence at age 6, mediated by the continuity of maternal parenting stress from age 2 to 6 and the continuity of maternal social interaction and warmth from age 2 to 6. Additionally, maternal parenting stress affected maternal parenting behavior during the same period. Attachment security at age 1 did not directly affect preschoolers’ social competence at age 6.ConclusionThis study showed that the parenting environment and maternal social interaction and warmth should be considered to explain the effects of attachment security during infancy on preschoolers’ social competence.