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Fear acquisition through maternal verbal threat information in middle childhood: the role of children’s attachment to mother

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 02:53 authored by Guy Bosmans, Adinda Dujardin, Andy FieldAndy Field, Elske Salemink, Michael W Vasey
Objective. Maternal verbal threat information influences fear acquisition during childhood. This study investigates whether child attachment moderates the impact of maternal verbal threat information on children’s fear beliefs and behavioral avoidance. Design. Mothers of 60 children provided verbal threat information about one of two unfamiliar Australian animals. Change in children’s fear beliefs was measured with a questionnaire, and their behavioral avoidance was observed. Attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance were measured using children’s self-report. Results. The impact of verbal threat information on fear beliefs was not moderated by attachment. However, attachment anxiety enhanced the effect of maternal verbal threat information on child behavioral avoidance. Conclusion. These results provide insight into complex processes that explain the impact of parent–child relationships on child fear acquisition through maternal verbal threat information

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Parenting

ISSN

1529-5192

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Issue

4

Volume

15

Page range

288-294

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2016-09-14

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    University of Sussex (Publications)

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