Mother-infant interaction in infancy and attachment and psychopathological risk at 6 years: a longitudinal study

The aim of the study was to examine the relations between the quality of mother-infant interaction in the first year and infant attachment at 14 months and child attachment and psychopathological risk at 6 years. The participants were 34 mother-child dyads (F=14). At infant 6 and 9 months, mother-infant interactions were coded with the Care-Index. Maternal attachment was evaluated with the Adult Attachment Interview at 3 months and infant attachment at 14 months with the Strange Situation Procedure. At 6 years, child attachment was evaluated with the Separation Anxiety Test and child psychopathological risk with the Child Behavior CheckList administered to the mothers. The results show how inadequacy of mother and child interaction at 6 and 9 months is related to child insecure attachment and psychopathological risk with regard to behavioral and emotional problems at 6 years.