Mother–child attachment and social anxiety symptoms in middle childhood

Abstract

Literature suggests that parent-child attachment and anxiety symptoms are related. One purpose of the present study was to assess whether attachment patterns relate differentially to social anxiety aspects (fear of negative evaluation, social anxiety and distress in new situations, and generalized anxiety and distress). The second purpose was to investigate these links both longitudinally and concurrently in middle childhood. Children in grades 3 and 5 (N = 74) completed measures of secure, ambivalent, and avoidant attachments with mothers and a measure of social anxiety symptoms in grade 5. Longitudinal analyses showed that ambivalent attachment was most consistently related to social anxiety. Concurrent measures of attachment and social anxiety showed that lower attachment security and higher ambivalent attachment were most consistently related to higher social anxiety. Concurrent attachment predicted variance in social anxiety after controlling for earlier attachment. Findings suggest that anxiety interventions might target attachment.

Social Anxiety Study Based on Coping Styles and Attachment Styles

“…People with insecure attachment style experience less social anxiety (Brumariu & Kerns, 2008). Students who have a more secure attachment to their parents, were more successful in forming friendly relations and these relations were more satisfied (Parade et al, 2009).…”

“…Socially anxious people tend to endorse high levels of negative cognitions, perceive ambiguous situations as threatening and report threat perception abnormalities; they underestimate their cognitive competence and social performance (Brumariu & Kerns, 2008). Research also suggests that socially anxious people often have difficulty in identifying and regulating their emotions (Suveg & Zeman, 2004).…”

“…Research also suggests that socially anxious people often have difficulty in identifying and regulating their emotions (Suveg & Zeman, 2004). Students with heightened social anxiety may evaluate their relationships more negatively than students without social anxiety (Parade, Leerkes, & Blankson, 2009), experience low levels of peer acceptance (Greco & Morris, 2005), intimacy and support in close relationships (Brumariu & Kerns, 2008).…”

“…Avoidant people inability to use the attachment figure to cope with negative emotions may cause them to experience anxiety (Brumariu & Kerns, 2008).…”

“…In contrast, children with attachment insecurity cannot perceive their caregivers as caring, responsive, and available. Doubt and suspicion about the accessibility of caregivers increases the eventuality to react with fear when experiencing alarming situations (Brumariu & Kerns, 2008).…”