International Journal of Developmental Science - Volume 10, issue 3-4

Authors: Ahnert, Lieselotte

Article Type: Editorial

DOI: 10.3233/DEV-16204

Citation: International Journal of Developmental Science, vol. 10, no. 3-4, pp. 85-87, 2016

Authors: Witting, Andrea | Ruiz, Nina | Ahnert, Lieselotte

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Three boys (an extremely preterm, a moderate preterm twin and a full-term toddler; all 12 to 15 months old) were selected from a large sample to investigate mechanisms of parent-child attachments, specifically of babies born preterm. Attachments were observed at home with the Attachment-Q-Sort (AQS) as well as in the lab with the Strange Situation (SS). Both AQS and SS were used twice for each boy, separately with his mother and father. Whereas the SS was efficient in analyzing basic attachment repertoire, levels of arousal and its regulation, the AQS depicted general characteristics of the attachments. Results revealed constraints in …use and provision of the secure base function which were only able to be demonstrated in the SS for father-child dyads of the preterm boys. This suggests that restriction in attachment repertoire, as well as inadequate paternal responses, led to descriptions of insecure attachments, whereas AQS-based assessments of the same dyads showed secure attachments. Show more

Keywords: Father, attachment, preterm, arousal, regulation, cortisol

DOI: 10.3233/DEV-16194

Citation: International Journal of Developmental Science, vol. 10, no. 3-4, pp. 89-97, 2016

Authors: Buchheim, Anna

Article Type: Article Commentary

DOI: 10.3233/DEV-16195

Citation: International Journal of Developmental Science, vol. 10, no. 3-4, pp. 99-100, 2016

Authors: Suess, Gerhard J.

Article Type: Article Commentary

DOI: 10.3233/DEV-16196

Citation: International Journal of Developmental Science, vol. 10, no. 3-4, pp. 101-102, 2016

Authors: Beckh, Kathrin | Becker-Stoll, Fabienne

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The aim of this article is to demonstrate how relational experiences with parents and preschool teachers provide children with a feeling of security that facilitates the development of competence in different domains. We first focus on the mechanisms regarding how secure attachments to parents serve as an important foundation for later development. We then provide a short review of the literature on teacher-child relationships, including results of our own research, which emphasizes the unique role relationship experiences with teachers play in shaping children’s development. Teachers’ sensitivity seems to be of particular importance in helping children with less favorable caregiving experiences …at home to become engaged in corrective relational experiences, and there is evidence that interventions aimed at increasing teachers’ sensitivity can be successful. Show more

Keywords: Parent-child attachment, teacher-child relationships, sensitivity, at-risk children

DOI: 10.3233/DEV-16197

Citation: International Journal of Developmental Science, vol. 10, no. 3-4, pp. 103-110, 2016

Authors: Ahnert, Lieselotte

Article Type: Article Commentary

DOI: 10.3233/DEV-16198

Citation: International Journal of Developmental Science, vol. 10, no. 3-4, pp. 111-113, 2016

Authors: Sagi-Schwartz, Abraham

Article Type: Article Commentary

DOI: 10.3233/DEV-16199

Citation: International Journal of Developmental Science, vol. 10, no. 3-4, pp. 115-116, 2016

Authors: Steele, Howard | Perez, Alejandra | Segal, Francesca | Steele, Miriam

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This paper reports on the longitudinal links between first-time mothers (N  = 48) Adult Attachment Interviews (AAIs), provided during pregnancy, and their first-born children’s AAIs, provided at age 16 years. The AAIs from the adolescents were scored for reflective functioning (RF), and this was found to be significantly linked to whether their mothers’ AAI were appraised as free-autonomous/secure as opposed to insecure-dismissing. Discussion concerns the unique influence of mothers upon their first-born children’s development of reflective functioning skills, including the understanding of mind and emotion. Fathers, for whom AAIs were also available, appeared to have no influence on this process. RF …scores from the adolescents did not differ as a function of either the previously observed infant-mother attachment or the infant-father attachment. Show more

Keywords: Adult Attachment Interview (AAI), reflective functioning, adolescence, attachment, longitudinal study

DOI: 10.3233/DEV-16201

Citation: International Journal of Developmental Science, vol. 10, no. 3-4, pp. 117-124, 2016

Authors: Spangler, Gottfried

Article Type: Article Commentary

DOI: 10.3233/DEV-16202

Citation: International Journal of Developmental Science, vol. 10, no. 3-4, pp. 125-127, 2016

Authors: Soares, Isabel | Baptista, Joana

Article Type: Article Commentary

DOI: 10.3233/DEV-16203

Citation: International Journal of Developmental Science, vol. 10, no. 3-4, pp. 129-130, 2016