The relationship of the attachment of problems of girls with the attachment style of mothers

Introduction: Mother as the main attachment figure has an undeniable effect on affective development of the child. The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship and predictability of girls` attachment problems through mothers` attachment style.

Method: Sample included 388 individuals of second and fourth grade of primary school that had been chosen through multistage cluster sampling method. In order to assess the girls` attachment problems, the RADQ was used. Besides, AAS questionnaire was administered as a criterion to assess mothers` attachment style. Data were analyzed using correlation and stepwise regression analysis method.

Results: The study showed a significant relationship between avoidant (r=0/32), ambivalent (r=0/28) and secure (r= -0/16) attachment style of mothers with the girls` attachment problems. Final finding of this research show that avoidant attachment style of mothers had the greatest power to predict attachment problems of girls and can predict %0/10 of child's attachment problems variance. On the other hand, ambivalent and secure attachment styles of mothers could predict %3 of attachment problems of girls.

Conclusion: In addition to supporting the attachment theory, results of this study signify the importance of mother-child interaction. Mothers` avoidant attachment style can be a strong predictor of their girls` attachment problems. Attachment based therapies can be useful methods in controlling attachment problems.