The Role of Early Attachment Experiences in the Development of Self-Views and Emerging Cognitive Vulnerability to Depression

Attachment theory proposes that through repeated interactions with primary caregivers early in life, children develop representations of the self and others that influence various aspects of subsequent development. In particular, Bowlby proposed that children develop vulnerability to psychopathology such as depression based on these early experiences (Bowlby, 1980). Numerous studies using self-report measures with adult participants have supported these assertions: Individuals with non-secure attachment styles are more likely to experience low self-esteem and depression than those with non-secure attachments (Dozier, Stovall-McClough, & Albus, 2008). However, these studies say little about the developmental origins of such processes, and prospective longitudinal studies beginning in childhood are necessary to provide support for Bowlby’s proposal. Unfortunately, few such studies exist in the extant literature. The purpose of the current study was to add to the existing literature by examining associations between early attachment and both self-views and vulnerability to depression in early childhood. The three studies in this set follow 70 children who were seen at three time points: 27 months, 42 months and 5.5 years. Mother-child attachment was assessed at the first two visits, and representations of the self and helpless responses to failure were examined at the latter assessment. As predicted, children with a history of secure attachment possessed more positive self-views related to cognitive competence and displayed less helplessness following a disappointing social situation. Contrary to expectations however, there was no association between attachment quality and helplessness following achievement-based failure, and children with non-secure attachment displayed more positive self-views with regard to physical competence than their secure counterparts. Additionally, a change from secure to non-secure attachment over the first few years of life was associated with the least positive self-views and responses to failure. These findings provide a more descriptive account of both self-views and responses to failure associated with early attachment quality than was previously available in the literature. The results are discussed in relation to existing theory and empirical research. This research has important implications for understanding developmental sequel associated with early attachment quality and also for clinical interventions aimed at improving outcomes for children with sub-optimal experiences in early attachment relationships

FROM MATERNAL SENSITIVITY TO MATERNAL INTERACTIVE BEHAVIOUR: EXPLORING THE DEVELOPMENT OF ATTACHMENT IN INFANTS OF ADULT AND ADOLESCENT MOTHERS

This study explored the maternal contribution to attachment relationships for both adult and adolescent mothers. Past research has focused on the relationship between maternal sensitivity - responding appropriately and promptly to infant signals - and attachment security. However, recent research has identified the need for a multi-dimensional assessment o f the maternal contribution to attachment relationships (Raval et al., 2001). Domains of conceptually related aspects of maternal interactive behaviour were created as part o f this study. This multi-dimensional description was then applied to describe the behaviour of 49 adult and 49 adolescent mothers during interactions with their infants. Results indicated differences in the association between maternal interactive behaviour and the quality o f the attachment relationship for adult and adolescent mothers. Additionally, these analyses revealed that distinct domains of maternal interaction had differing degrees o f association with the attachment relationship. Implications for clinical interventions and suggestions for future research are also discusse

A Likelihood Ratio Test of Stationarity Based on a Correlated Unobserved Components Model

We propose a likelihood ratio (LR) test of stationarity based on a widely-used correlated unobserved components model. We verify the asymptotic distribution and consistency of the LR test, while a bootstrap version of the test is at least first-order accurate. Given empirically-relevant processes estimated from macroeconomic data, Monte Carlo analysis reveals that the bootstrap version of the LR test has better small-sample size control and higher power than commonly used bootstrap Lagrange multiplier (LM) tests, even when the correct parametric structure is specified for the LM test. A key feature of our proposed LR test is its allowance for correlation between permanent and transitory movements in the time series under consideration, which increases the power of the test given the apparent presence of non-zero correlations for many macroeconomic variables. Based on the bootstrap LR test, and in some cases contrary to the bootstrap LM tests, we can reject trend stationarity for U.S. real GDP, the unemployment rate, consumer prices, and payroll employment in favor of nonstationary processes with volatile stochastic trends.Stationarity Test, Likelihood Ratio, Unobserved Components, Parametric Bootstrap, Monte Carlo Simulation, Small-Sample Inference

Exploring the Development of Adolescent Mother-Infant Attachment Relationships: The Contribution of Ecological Factors

The current study set out to identify specific factors associated with adolescent motherhood that may reduce sensitivity and subsequently contribute to the development of non-secure mother-infant attachment relationships

Exploring the Development of Attachment in Infants of Adult and Adolescent Mothers

While many studies have looked at the development of attachment relationships for adult and adolescent mothers separately, few studies have directly compared these two groups in a single study The current study further explored the origins of attachment relationships for adolescent mothers and their infants by directly comparing the development of these processes with adult mothers and their infants The hypothesis that differences in the distributions of attachment classifications among these two populations is a result of low levels of sensitivity has yet to be tested in a mediational analysis The current study will test a model whereby differences in the quality of attachment relationships between these two groups is, at least in part, meditated by maternal sensitivit

The Development of Disorganized Attachment in Infants of Adult and Adolescent Mothers

Attachment theory proposes that maternal sensitivity is the main developmental determinant of Organized attachment relationships (Ainsworth Blehar, Waters & Wall, 1978; DeWolff & van IJzendoorn, 1997); In contrast, Disorganized attachment relationships are held to be the product of frightened, frightening or atypical maternal behaviour (Lyons-Ruth, Bronfman, & Parson, 1999; Main & Hesse, 1990). However, recent research has identified associations between low levels of maternal sensitivity and Disorganized attachment in high-risk populations (Bernier & Meins, 2008; Moran, Forbes, Evans, Tarabulsy, & Madigan, 2008; van IJzendoorn, Scheungel & Bakermans-Kranenburg, 1999); This raises the possibility that maternal sensitivity may contribute to the development of Disorganized attachment relationships in high-risk groups. Such findings have yet to be replicated in low-risk samples, perhaps suggesting the association between maternal interactive behaviour and the development of Disorganized attachment may differ between high-risk and low-risk populations. To better understand differences in the origins of Disorganized relationships between high-risk and low- risk groups, it has been suggested that assessing various aspects of maternal interaction, in addition to overall sensitivity, may be beneficial (Moran et al., 2008)

Beyond Sensitivity: Patterns of Maternal Interaction in Secure vs. Non-Secure Attachment Relationships

Attachment theory proposes that the sensitivity of a mother’s interactions with her child is the main developmental determinant of the quality of their attachment relationship (Ainsworth et al., 1978; De Wolff & van Ijzendoorn, 1997). Empirical findings have generally supported this assertion; however, the strength of this association remains a matter of debate as the results of empirical findings have been highly variable (Atkinson et al., 2000; DeWolff & van IJzendoorn, 1997). Several researchers have suggested that assessing maternal behaviour as a single global dimension may fail to capture important variation in the quality of interactions that influence the developing attachment relationship (van IJzendoorn, 1995; Pederson et al., 1998). Consequently, assessing distinct aspects of maternal interactive behaviour may provide additional insight into the maternal contribution to the quality of the attachment relationship

Sibling Mother-Infant Attachment: Different Patterns of Interaction Lead to Similar Relationships

PURPOSE: To investigate the role of maternal sensitivity and interactive behavior in sibling attachment non-/concordance. RESULTS:1) Global measures of sensitivity suggest that mothers of concordant-secure and non-concordant infants demonstrate a similar degree of sensitivity towards each child. 2) Mothers with non-concordant infants interact more similarly with each child on domains of maternal sensitivity, compared to mothers whose infants are concordant. CONCLUSION: The quality of the attachment relationship in families with non-concordant mother-infant relationships –in contrast to families with concordant dyads –does not appear to be systematically affected by maternal sensitivity as typically assessed. More detailed assessment of the interactions suggest that mothers with non-concordant relationships with their infants may be unable to adapt their behaviour to suit the unique needs of each child

Characterizing 51 Eri b from 1-5 μ\mum: a partly-cloudy exoplanet

We present spectro-photometry spanning 1-5 $\mu$m of 51 Eridani b, a 2-10 M$_\text{Jup}$ planet discovered by the Gemini Planet Imager Exoplanet Survey. In this study, we present new $K1$ (1.90-2.19 $\mu$m) and $K2$ (2.10-2.40 $\mu$m) spectra taken with the Gemini Planet Imager as well as an updated $L_P$ (3.76 $\mu$m) and new $M_S$ (4.67 $\mu$m) photometry from the NIRC2 Narrow camera. The new data were combined with $J$ (1.13-1.35 $\mu$m) and $H$ (1.50-1.80 $\mu$m) spectra from the discovery epoch with the goal of better characterizing the planet properties. 51 Eri b photometry is redder than field brown dwarfs as well as known young T-dwarfs with similar spectral type (between T4-T8) and we propose that 51 Eri b might be in the process of undergoing the transition from L-type to T-type. We used two complementary atmosphere model grids including either deep iron/silicate clouds or sulfide/salt clouds in the photosphere, spanning a range of cloud properties, including fully cloudy, cloud free and patchy/intermediate opacity clouds. Model fits suggest that 51 Eri b has an effective temperature ranging between 605-737 K, a solar metallicity, a surface gravity of $\log$(g) = 3.5-4.0 dex, and the atmosphere requires a patchy cloud atmosphere to model the SED. From the model atmospheres, we infer a luminosity for the planet of -5.83 to -5.93 ($\log L/L_{\odot}$), leaving 51 Eri b in the unique position as being one of the only directly imaged planet consistent with having formed via cold-start scenario. Comparisons of the planet SED against warm-start models indicates that the planet luminosity is best reproduced by a planet formed via core accretion with a core mass between 15 and 127 M$_{\oplus}$.Comment: 27 pages, 19 figures, Accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journa