아동 중기 남아의 애착유형별 분포 및 특성에 관한 연구

Objective: Sex differences in attachment types are absent during early childhood, but emerge in middle childhood. Prior research has shown that boys classify as more often avoidant than ambivalent. The purpose of this study was to investigate marked sex differences in the distribution of attachment types in middle childhood, especially in boys. Methods: Attachment was assessed with the Separation Anxiety Test in a sample of 208 boys in Grades 3 and 4. Their socioeconomic backgrounds and developmental histories were also collected. Results: The distribution of attachment types was differed from those in early childhood, with insecure boys more often avoidant (31.3%) than ambivalent (7.2%). Insecure-avoidant boys were rated as over 10% compared the global distribution. Conclusion: These results supported the hypothesis of adrenarche in middle childhood. Boys may be changed to have more avoidant types in attachment.