PREDICTION OF INFANT-FATHER AND INFANT-MOTHER ATTACHMENT

The 1st-year correlates of infant-father and infant-mother attachment were investigated in a longitudinal study of early family development. Mothers and fathers were observed interacting with their firstborn, 3-month-old infants. Parents also were interviewed individually at 3 months child age concerning their time with the infant and their attitudes and reports about the infant and their parental role. Mothers and fathers were seen in the strange situation with their infant at 12 months. For infants and fathers, security of attachment was predicted from the qualities of interaction at 3 months, the father's attitudes and reports about the infant and the paternal role, and the father's time with the infant. For infants and mothers, security of attachment was predicted from the qualities of interaction at 3 months and the mother's time with the infant.