The Effects of Childhood Attachment and Adult Attachment on Parenting Behavior of Couples with a Preschooler
AUTHOR : 서해인, 신나나
INFORMATION : page. 97~134 / 2021 Vol.28 No.2
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to examine the direct and indirect effects (through adult attachment) of childhood attachment on parenting behavior of couples with a preschooler (age 3 to 5). A total of 238 couples responded to questionnaires. The actor-partner interdependence model was used for the dyadic data analysis. The main findings of the study are as follows. First, for fathers, childhood attachment to mothers had direct effects on positive and negative parenting behaviors. For mothers, childhood attachment to mothers had a direct effect on negative behavior. Second, couples’ childhood attachment to mothers had indirect effects on positive and negative parenting behavior through attachment anxiety. Couples’ childhood attachment to fathers and mothers had indirect effects on positive parenting behavior through attachment avoidance. Third, none of the partner effects of adult attachment to parenting behavior were significant. Our study findings emphasize the importance of childhood attachment and adult attachment in parenting behavior. This study can be used as sources for establishing programs for parents who have difficulty in parenting.