Does Recollection of Exposure to Poor Maternal Care in Childhood Affect Later Ability to Relate?

Abstract

The study tested Bowlby's hypothesis that experiencing the poor relating of parents in childhood predisposes the individual to poor relating in adult life. Data were drawn from two community samples: a younger sample of 25-34-year-old married women, and an older one of 40-49-year-old women. Data were also drawn from the husbands of the women in the younger sample. It focused on the single childhood variable of the recollection of poor maternal care. To avoid the effect of this on depression or other psychopathology, groups who were depressed and not depressed, or who were at different levels of psychopathology, were examined separately. Recollection of poor early care was associated with poor relating, lower age at marriage, poor-quality marriage and divorce from first marriage. There was a suggestion that the effects of the recollection of poor early care of marital partners summate.

Adult attachment, intimacy and psychological distress in a clinical and community sample

“…Repeated interactions with caregivers become internalized as mental models, or 'internal working models of attachment', that serve to guide social behavior and expectations in sub-ment style are characterized by a lack of confidence and trust in the supportiveness of significant others and are hampered in their support-seeking behavior (Collins & Feeney, 2004;Simpson, Rholes, & Nelligan, 1992). Indirect evidence supports the hypothesis that insecure childhood attachment constitutes a risk factor for later marital difficulties (Ricks, 1985;Birtchnell, 1993).…”

Experiences of parental rearing and patterns of attachment in adulthood

“…One of the major tenets of Bowlby's attachment theory (Bowlby 1969(Bowlby -1980 is that the experience of poor relating to the parents during upbringing sets the stage for difficulties in later relationships, and ultimately represent a factor contributing to an individual's vulnerability for psychopathological disorders (Perris, 1988(Perris, , 1994Birtchnell, 1993;Gittleman et al, 1998). The present study sought to investigate possible relationships The main assumption guiding the present investigation is that early experiences of parental rearing, lead to the development of internal working models of self and others in relationship.…”

Recollections of parental care and quality of intimate relationships: the role of re-evaluating past attachment experiences

“…As was briefly mentioned in the Introduction, the link between recalled parenting and adult functioning in relationships finds only inconsistent empirical support. Many explanations for this inconsistency are reviewed by Parker et al (1992) and Birtchnell (1993); an additional explanatory factor might be that the effects of lack of parental care are relatively mild compared to the effects of being abused, shamed, and criticized by one's parents (Gilbert and Gerlsma, 1999;Gilbert, 2000). Furthermore, the findings in this study suggest that participants' style of reconstructing their parenting experiences attenuate associations between recollections of parenting and current functioning in relationships (e.g.…”

“…Empirical support for this expectation is, however, not unequivocal (e.g. reviews in Parker et al, 1992;Birtchnell, 1993;Gerlsma, 1994).…”