Influence of attachment and separation experience on separation distress at 18 months

Examined distress in response to brief maternal separations in 93 16-20 mo old infants, using the "strange situation" procedure developed by M. D. Ainsworth (1978). At 18 mo, the age when separation protest began to decline, securely attached Ss were better able than anxiously attached Ss to tolerate brief maternal separations. Separation experience, measured by hours per week in extrafamilial child care, related to separation distress in a curvilinear fashion. Moderate separation experience predicted lower levels of distress, whereas either extensive or minimal experience predicted greater distress. This finding is consistent with the cognitive-developmental hypothesis that moderate experience should be most conducive to the development of an understanding of the circumstances of parental separations. Multiple regression indicated that secure attachment and moderate separation experience both contributed independently to the development of the capacity to cope with separation during the 2nd year, so that the otherwise secure infant who lacks such experience will find it more difficult to tolerate parental separation. (25 ref)