POVERTY'S EFFECTS ON ATTACHMENT
Physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development are all affected by poverty. In turn, all of these areas impact proper attachment between children and their parents and caregivers.
Economic pressures will initially affect the emotional lives and interactions of the mother and father and in turn,
diffuse into the caretaking environment of the children. Poor families often are abound in multiple stressors, such as
unemployment, substandard housing, absence of healthcare and substance abuse. These significant factors
further the intergenerational cycle of poverty.
Poverty, attachment and resilience are inclusive of an ecological framework.
The way parents and children interact can be affected by the amount of resources a parent has.
In fact, the quality and quantity of interactions affects how children interact with the world including peers and other caregivers such as teachers.
There are many aspects of poverty that have influence over attachment of children.
Three aspects affecting attachment that are related to poverty are:
Sensitivity, Maternal Depression, and Maternal Efficacy
How Sensitivity affects Attachment
Sensitive, responsive caregiver was crucial to the development of secure attachments during infancy.
In the past several decades, numerous studies have documented the association between sensitivity and attachment security
The association between sensitivity and attachment security was moderated by socioeconomic status
Maternal sensitivity a primary determinant of the attachment relationship
The mother has a greater influence than the child on the attachment relationship
How Maternal Depression affects Attachment
Maternal depression increased the likelihood of insecure attachment.
Maternal depression was associated with less competent maternal behavior
Mothers who experienced stress and depression at the same time were more likely to have children who were insecurely attached than mothers who experienced either stress or depression alone
This indicates that cumulative risk factors may increase the likelihood of insecure attachment relationships.
Maternal depression appears to limit maternal sensitivity and is associated with higher rates of insecure mother-child attachment
How Maternal Efficacy Affects Attachment
Efficacy is the belief that something you are doing is making an impact or difference.
Parents who believe that their children are responsive to their parenting efforts may be more likely to invest time in effective parenting practices, and will increase the likelihood of secure attachment.
Mothers with higher self-efficacy may be more responsive and engaged with their children, and thus, efficacy may mediate the relationship between depression and maternal sensitivity
Other Important Factors:
Parental Support
There is a positive association between secure attachment and spousal & community support.
The number of people in a parent’s social network as well as the number of supportive people in a parent’s social network predicted security of attachment in the mother-child relationship
Physical Environment of the Child
Aspects of the physical environment may encourage the child to leave an attachment figure to explore, thereby promoting an optimal balance between attachment behavior and exploratory behavior, including the availability of toys
Aspects of the physical environment that encourage exploratory behavior may be associated with attachment security.
All Factors Appear to be Interconnected to Attachment
There are associations among maternal sensitivity, maternal depression, maternal efficacy and beliefs about play,
and attachment security among families living in poverty
Solutions
Building and supporting parental efficacy through education and support groups
Encouraging spousal & family support through events & workshops for families
Teaching parents about play and attachment through workshops and play groups for parents & children
An optimal balance between caregivers and physical environment
Aspects of the physical environment may encourage the child to leave an attachment figure to explore.
This promotes an optimal balance between attachment behavior and exploratory behavior
Economic pressures will initially affect the emotional lives and interactions of the mother and father and in turn,
diffuse into the caretaking environment of the children. Poor families often are abound in multiple stressors, such as
unemployment, substandard housing, absence of healthcare and substance abuse. These significant factors
further the intergenerational cycle of poverty.
Poverty, attachment and resilience are inclusive of an ecological framework.
The way parents and children interact can be affected by the amount of resources a parent has.
In fact, the quality and quantity of interactions affects how children interact with the world including peers and other caregivers such as teachers.
There are many aspects of poverty that have influence over attachment of children.
Three aspects affecting attachment that are related to poverty are:
Sensitivity, Maternal Depression, and Maternal Efficacy
How Sensitivity affects Attachment
Sensitive, responsive caregiver was crucial to the development of secure attachments during infancy.
In the past several decades, numerous studies have documented the association between sensitivity and attachment security
The association between sensitivity and attachment security was moderated by socioeconomic status
Maternal sensitivity a primary determinant of the attachment relationship
The mother has a greater influence than the child on the attachment relationship
How Maternal Depression affects Attachment
Maternal depression increased the likelihood of insecure attachment.
Maternal depression was associated with less competent maternal behavior
Mothers who experienced stress and depression at the same time were more likely to have children who were insecurely attached than mothers who experienced either stress or depression alone
This indicates that cumulative risk factors may increase the likelihood of insecure attachment relationships.
Maternal depression appears to limit maternal sensitivity and is associated with higher rates of insecure mother-child attachment
How Maternal Efficacy Affects Attachment
Efficacy is the belief that something you are doing is making an impact or difference.
Parents who believe that their children are responsive to their parenting efforts may be more likely to invest time in effective parenting practices, and will increase the likelihood of secure attachment.
Mothers with higher self-efficacy may be more responsive and engaged with their children, and thus, efficacy may mediate the relationship between depression and maternal sensitivity
Other Important Factors:
Parental Support
There is a positive association between secure attachment and spousal & community support.
The number of people in a parent’s social network as well as the number of supportive people in a parent’s social network predicted security of attachment in the mother-child relationship
Physical Environment of the Child
Aspects of the physical environment may encourage the child to leave an attachment figure to explore, thereby promoting an optimal balance between attachment behavior and exploratory behavior, including the availability of toys
Aspects of the physical environment that encourage exploratory behavior may be associated with attachment security.
All Factors Appear to be Interconnected to Attachment
There are associations among maternal sensitivity, maternal depression, maternal efficacy and beliefs about play,
and attachment security among families living in poverty
Solutions
Building and supporting parental efficacy through education and support groups
Encouraging spousal & family support through events & workshops for families
Teaching parents about play and attachment through workshops and play groups for parents & children
An optimal balance between caregivers and physical environment
Aspects of the physical environment may encourage the child to leave an attachment figure to explore.
This promotes an optimal balance between attachment behavior and exploratory behavior