Psychology Research Works

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/1645

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Author: search.filters.author.Cassidy, JudeStart date: 2020

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    Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Preschoolers’ Helping, Sharing, and Comforting: The Moderating Role of Child Attachment
    (Taylor & Francis, 2020-03-30) Brett, Bonnie E.; Stern, Jessica A.; Gross, Jacquelyn T.; Cassidy, Jude
    Maternal depressive symptoms (MDS) are inconsistently associated with lower rates of child prosocial behavior. Studies typically examine prosocial behavior as a unitary construct rather than examining its multiple dimensions, and rarely consider how the quality of the parent-child relationship could influence this association. The current study examines whether the security of the parent-child attachment relationship moderates the association between MDS and children’s helping, sharing, and comforting behaviors. Participants were 164 low-income, majority African American mothers and their preschool-aged children recruited from Head Start centers. Mothers reported the frequency of depressive symptoms at baseline; child attachment security and helping, sharing, and comforting behavior were observationally assessed 5 to 8 months later. Moderation analyses revealed a positive main effect of security (but not MDS) on children’s comforting behavior, a main effect of MDS on sharing, and no main effects of MDS or security on children’s helping behaviors. Significant interactions between MDS and security predicted comforting and (marginally) helping behaviors, such that MDS were associated with both more helping and more comforting behavior only when children were more secure. No such interaction was observed for sharing. These findings suggest that children may adapt to maternal depressive symptoms in prosocial ways, but that this depends at least in part on the quality of the parent-child relationship, underscoring the importance of examining attachment quality as a moderator of parental influences on children’s social-emotional development. We discuss potential explanations for these findings, as well as their implications for intervention.
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    Attachment goes to court: child protection and custody issues
    (Taylor & Francis, 2022-01-11) Forslund, Tommie; Granqvist, Pehr; van IJzendoorn, Marinus H.; Sagi- Schwartz, Avi; Glaser, Danya; Steele, Miriam; Hammarlund, Mårten; Schuengel, Carlo; Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marian J.; Steele, Howard; Shaver, Phillip R.; Lux, Ulrike; Simmonds, John; Jacobvitz, Deborah; Groh, Ashley M.; Bernard, Kristin; Cyr, Chantal; Hazen, Nancy L.; Foster, Sarah; Psouni, Elia; Cowan, Philip A.; Cowan, Carolyn Pape; Rifkin-Graboi, Anne; Wilkins, David; Pierrehumbert, Blaise; Tarabulsy, George M.; Carcamo, Rodrigo A.; Wang, Zhengyan; Liang, Xi; Kazmierczak, Maria; Pawlicka, Paulina; Ayiro, Lilian; Chansa, Tamara; Sichimba, Francis; Mooya, Haatembo; McLean, Loyola; Verissimo, Manuela; Gojman-de-Millán, Sonia; Moretti, Marlene M.; Bacro, Fabien; Peltola, Mikko J.; Galbally, Megan; Kondo-Ikemura, Kiyomi; Behrens, Kazuko Y.; Scott, Stephen; Rodriguez, Andrés Fresno; Spencer, Rosario; Posada, Germán; Cassibba, Rosalinda; Barrantes-Vidal, Neus; Palacios, Jesus; Barone, Lavinia; Madigan, Sheri; Jones-Mason, Karen; Reijman, Sophie; Juffer, Femmie; Fearon, R. Pasco; Bernier, Annie; Cicchetti, Dante; Roisman, Glenn I.; Cassidy, Jude; Kindler, Heinz; Zimmermann, Peter; Feldman, Ruth; Spangler, Gottfried; Zeanah, Charles H.; Dozier, Mary; Belsky, Jay; Lamb, Michael E.; Duschinsky, Robbie
    Attachment theory and research are drawn upon in many applied settings, including family courts, but misunderstandings are widespread and sometimes result in misapplications. The aim of this consensus statement is, therefore, to enhance understanding, counter misinformation, and steer family-court utilisation of attachment theory in a supportive, evidence-based direction, especially with regard to child protection and child custody decision-making. The article is divided into two parts. In the first, we address problems related to the use of attachment theory and research in family courts, and discuss reasons for these problems. To this end, we examine family court applications of attachment theory in the current context of the best-interest-of-the-child standard, discuss misunderstandings regarding attachment theory, and identify factors that have hindered accurate implementation. In the second part, we provide recommendations for the application of attachment theory and research. To this end, we set out three attachment principles: the child’s need for familiar, non-abusive caregivers; the value of continuity of good-enough care; and the benefits of networks of attachment relationships. We also discuss the suitability of assessments of attachment quality and caregiving behaviour to inform family court decision-making. We conclude that assessments of caregiver behaviour should take center stage. Although there is dissensus among us regarding the use of assessments of attachment quality to inform child custody and child-protection decisions, such assessments are currently most suitable for targeting and directing supportive interventions. Finally, we provide directions to guide future interdisciplinary research collaboration.
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    Working toward anti-racist perspectives in attachment theory, research, and practice
    (Taylor & Francis, 2021-09-16) Stern, Jessica A.; Barbarin, Oscar; Cassidy, Jude
    Recent social movements have illuminated systemic inequities in U.S. society, including within the social sciences. Thus, it is essential that attachment researchers and practitioners engage in reflection and action to work toward anti-racist perspectives in the field. Our aims in this paper are (1) to share the generative conversations and debates that arose in preparing the Special Issue of Attachment & Human Development, “Attachment Perspectives on Race, Prejudice, and Anti-Racism”; and (2) to propose key considerations for working toward anti-racist perspectives in the field of attachment. We provide recommendations for enriching attachment theory (e.g. considering relations between caregivers’ racial-ethnic socialization and secure base provision), research (e.g. increasing the representation of African American researchers and participants), and practice (e.g. advocating for policies that reduce systemic inequities in family supports). Finally, we suggest two relevant models integrating attachment theory with perspectives from Black youth development as guides for future research.