The research objective was to follow the development of securely and insecurely attached children whose mothers were clinically depressed and mothers who were without psychiatric disorders. Depressive symptomatology involves impairments in domains of maternal functioning that, in attachment theory, are especially influenced by attachment: sense of self as unworthy, difficulties in engaging with the environment, dysregulated affect, negative expectations of others, and difficulties in developing positive, committed relationships. The research question is: how do secure and insecure attachments, relationships with depressed and well mothers, carry forward in children's psychosocial development? One hundred mother-child pairs, 37 normal control mothers, and 63 depressed mothers were studied. Attachment and family stressors were assessed when the children were preschool age. Children's psychiatric status was evaluated 3 years and 6 years later. No main effects were found for attachment. However, attachment exercises more subtle effects on child outcome in interaction with other family variables.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Intramural Research (Z01)
Project #
1Z01MH002490-03
Application #
3845291
Study Section
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
Budget End
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
U.S. National Institute of Mental Health
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
State
Country
United States
Zip Code