Developing a Method to Assess Attachment Hierarchy in Preschool Children
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| Year of publication | 2024 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
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| Description | Attachment theory is a cornerstone in understanding human development, yet assessing attachment hierarchy in preschool children remains a challenge. While measures such as the WHOTO (Hazan & Zeifman, 1994), the Important People Interview (Rosentahl & Kobak, 2010), and the Attachment Figure Interview (Seibert & Kerns, 2009) cater to early school-age children and adolescents, there's a gap for preschoolers. We present a novel method designed to capture attachment hierarchy in children aged 4 and above. This innovative approach is based on the story format, engaging children in a playful yet insightful exploration of their attachment figures. Dolls and other props are used to present the stories. Through a series of stories, children identify and rank the importance of individuals in their lives, allowing for a nuanced understanding of attachment dynamics. Inspired by previous work (Umemura et al., 2018), our scoring system acknowledges the possibility of multiple primary attachment figures, thus providing a more comprehensive assessment. We emphasize both the frequency of occurrence and the order of mention, offering insights into the depth and complexity of attachment relationships. Our method boasts several strengths. Firstly, the detailed storytelling aspect encourages children's engagement and expression. Secondly, the use of dolls as proxies for attachment figures enhances children's motivation to participate. Finally, the flexibility of allowing multiple figures in the same rank provides a nuanced view of attachment hierarchy. To establish concurrent validity, we administer additional measures including a Child Puppet Interview assessing attachment security, as well as story stems measuring attachment anxiety and avoidance towards the mother. Additionally, we collect data through parent questionnaires regarding family structure and their perceptions of the child's attachment figures. Preliminary findings from our ongoing data collection, scheduled for the spring of 2024, will be presented at the conference. Additionally, mothers whose toddlers participated in the Strange Situation Procedure 5/6 years ago will be invited to involve their children in the upcoming research. We anticipate an estimated sample size of 100 children aged 4 to 8 years. This methodological innovation addresses a critical gap in attachment research, providing a nuanced understanding of attachment hierarchy in preschool children. |
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