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. 2006 Spring;18(2):395-407.
doi: 10.1017/s0954579406060214.

Behaviour problems in 18- to 36-month old children of alcoholic fathers: secure mother-infant attachment as a protective factor

Ellen P Edwards  1 , Rina Das Eiden, Kenneth E Leonard
Affiliations

Behaviour problems in 18- to 36-month old children of alcoholic fathers: secure mother-infant attachment as a protective factor

Ellen P Edwards et al. Dev Psychopathol. 2006 Spring.

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between paternal alcoholism and toddler behavior problems from 18 to 36 months of age, as well as the potential moderating effects of 12-month infant-mother attachment security on this relationship. Children with alcoholic fathers had higher levels of internalizing and externalizing behavior than children of nonalcoholic fathers. Simple effects testing of an interaction effect of child age, group, and attachment security with mothers on externalizing behaviour suggested that at 24 and 36 months of age mother-infant attachment security moderated the relationship between alcohol group status and externalizing behaviour. Namely, within the alcohol group, those children with secure relationships with their mothers had significantly lower externalizing than insecure children of alcoholics. A similar pattern was noted for internalizing behavior at 36 months of age. Implications for intervention are discussed.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The interaction of age, group, and mother–infant attachment security on internalizing behavior t scores; (◆) insecure, alcoholic group; (■) secure, alcoholic group; (▲) insecure, nonalcoholic group; (●) secure, nonalcoholic group.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The interaction of age, group, and mother–infant attachment security on externalizing behavior t scores; (◆) insecure, alcoholic group; (■) secure, alcoholic group; (▲) insecure, nonalcoholic group; (●) secure, nonalcoholic group.
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