Middle Childhood Support-Seeking Behavior During Stress: Links With Self-Reported Attachment and Future Depressive Symptoms

• Autores: Adinda Dujardin, Tara Santens, Caroline Braet, Rudi De Raedt, Pieter Vos, Bea Maes, Guy Bosmans
• Localización: Child development, ISSN 0009-3920, Vol. 87, Nº. 1, 2016, págs. 326-340
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • This study tested whether children's more anxious and avoidant attachment is linked to decreased support-seeking behavior toward their mother during stress in middle childhood, and whether children's decreased support-seeking behavior enhances the impact of experiencing life events on the increase of depressive symptoms 18 months later. Ninety-eight 8- to 12-year-old children filled out questionnaires assessing their level of anxious and avoidant attachment and depressive symptoms. Children's support-seeking behavior was observed through measuring the time children waited before calling for their mother's help while carrying out a stressful task. Results supported the hypothesis that more anxiously or avoidantly attached children waited longer before seeking maternal support. Moreover, waiting longer was related to increased depressive symptoms at follow-up in children who reported more experienced life events.