Pathways to earned-security: The role of alternative support figures

Abstract

This study explored the kinds of relationship experiences associated with earned-security, i.e., the extent to which mothers who report early negative relationship histories with their parents are later able to form a secure working model of attachment (indicated by the ability to speak clearly and coherently about these histories). Mothers from a low-risk sample (N = 121) expecting their first child completed the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI), which was used to assess earned-security retrospectively using the stringent definition recommended by Main and Hesse (Hesse, 2008 ; Main, Goldwyn, & Hesse, 2002 ), as well as to identify alternative support figures. Participants also completed self-report measures of depressive symptomatology, questionnaires concerning their experiences in therapy, and later, when their babies were 12 to 15 months old, the Strange Situation procedure. Sixteen mothers were classified as earned-secure (25% of those classified as secure-autonomous and 13% of the whole sample). Women who were earned-secure (vs. insecure and continuous-secure) reported significantly higher levels of emotional support, but not instrumental support, from alternative support figures. They also spent more time in therapy than did insecure and continuous-secure women and were more likely to form secure attachments with their infants than insecure women. These findings were obtained even after controlling for depressive symptoms.

An evaluation of the construct of earned security in adolescents: Evidence from an inpatient sample

“…For instance, Pearson and colleagues (1994) reported that adults with an earned secure classification demonstrated parenting styles that were comparable to those of adults in the continuous secure group-with both groups demonstrating significantly higher parental warmth and structure than an insecure comparison group. Similar findings were reported by Saunders, Jacobvitz, Zaccagnino, Beverung, and Hazen (2011), who found that both earned secure and continuous secure mothers were equally likely to have a securely attached infant (see also Phelps, Belsky, & Crnic, 1998). Furthermore, the marital functioning of individuals with an earned secure classification has been found to be no different from that of individuals with a continuous secure classification (Paley, Cox, Burchinal, & Payne, 1999).…”

“…This hypothesis is supported by higher rates of internalizing distress among earned secure adults (Pearson et al, 1994;Roisman et al, 2002) and, even more compellingly, by an experimental manipulation in which a sad mood induction prior to the AAI was linked to higher likelihood of an earned secure classification (Roisman et al, 2006). Indeed, studies attempting to address other empirical questions regarding earned security now routinely control for internalizing symptoms (e.g., Saunders et al, 2011) due to the strength of this finding.…”

“…In this way, Pearson et al (1994) sought to identify a group of adults who, despite recalling unloving caregiver experiences, conveyed secure attachments during the AAI. Several studies modified this procedure such that adults could be assigned to the earned secure group with either a low score on the parent loving scale or a high score on the negative parenting scale (e.g., Paley et al, 1999;Saunders et al, 2011). A more stringent method, put forth by Main, Goldwyn, and Hesse (2002), required that only individuals with very low loving scores for both parents should be classified as earned secure-although this approach is rarely used due to small numbers of adults meeting these criteria.…”

The Family Sanctum: The Promise of Love’s Continuing Enlargement Across the Lifespan

“…Fortunately, the opportunity to achieve a secure attachment status remains available across the lifespan (Saunders, Jacobvitz, Zaccagnino, Beverung, & Hazen, 2011). Earned secure attachment refers to the achievement of a secure attachment status later in life when it was not achieved through the first family relationships.…”

A Life-Saving Therapy: The Theory-Building Case of "Cora"

“…The concept of "earned-security" is also relevant to an understanding of such clients. Pearson, Cohn, Cowan, and Cowan (1994) found that a significant proportion of individuals with negative attachment experiences in childhood were nevertheless able to exhibit secure attachment patterns in adult life, on the basis of involvement of alternative support figures (Saunders, et al, 2011). Clearly, a relationship with a psychotherapist represents a potentially curative form of support.…”