Maternal sensitivity and the security of infant--mother attachment: a Q-sort study

Mothers and their 12-month-old infants were observed twice at home. After the second visit, the observers described the infant using the Waters Attachment Behavior Q-sort and the mother's interactive behavior with the Maternal Q-sort developed by the present authors and Ainsworth's rating scales. Maternal sensitivity was unrelated to maternal age, income, or SES, but correlated positively with maternal education. Mothers of more difficult children were less sensitive. (Abstract amended)