Need AP studies/info PLEASE - ASAP!!

[Dolphin]

I'm hoping someone can help me with this!! I wrote a letter to the editor of a very popular pregnancy magazine taking issue with an article they had in which a doctor said Attachment Parenting was bad for families because it caused parents to get stressed out trying to stop their babies from crying, as if an obsession with keeping baby from crying was the whole deal with AP. He also said there was no scientific support that AP creates more secure, independent people. It made me so angry that I shot off a letter, saying that the doctor was obviously uneducated about the gist of AP, and that the science of attachment is well-established. I actually got a response saying they were going to print part of my letter. But she asked me for any info on the science I mentioned, research studies, books to reference, anything. I read stuff all the time, but need your suggestions on what to tell her. Note-worthy AP studies, great books, anything!! If anyone has some great references, I know you mammas do!! Thanks in advance!!

[MsMoMpls]

I am pretty sure there is no scientific support that AP creates more secure, independent people. Just can't prove that. Very little long term research about parenting of any kind.

[Dolphin]

Ok, well, I think his words were that there was no science supporting the "effectiveness" of AP. How about some research on just the benefits of strong attachment? Please tell me that exists!!! I know I've read about some studies, other than the Dr. Sears stuff... please oh please!

[AllyRae]

En Contraire...there actually is research! I've used all of these resources to complete 2 separate research projects for my master's degree...one on attachment and personality formation and one on attachment and adoption.

Alexander, P. C. (1992). Application of attachment theory to the study of sexual abuse. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 60(2), 185-195.

Anon. (2004). What is attachment parenting? API News: The Journal of Attachment Parenting International, 6(4), 5.

Nelson, J. K. (1998). The meaning of crying based on attachment theory. Clinical Social Work Journal, 26(1), 9-22.

Peluso, P. R., Peluso, J. P., White, J. F., & Kern, R. M. (2004). A comparison of attachment theory and individual psychology: A review of the literature. Journal of Counseling & Development, 82(2), 146-157.

Rothbaum, F., Weisz, J., Pott, M., Miyake, K., & Morelli, G. (2000). Attachment and culture: Security in the United States and Japan. American Psychologist, 55(10), 1093-1104.

Silver, A. (2003). The nurturing parenting program and other attachment friendly courses. API News: The Journal of Attachment Parenting International, 6(3).

Stams, G. J. M., Juffer, F., & van IJzendoorn, M. H. (2002). Maternal sensitivity, infant attachment, and temperament in early childhood predict adjustment in middle childhood: The case of adopted children and their biologically unrelated parents. Developmental Psychology, 38(5), 806-821.

Birnbaum, D. (2003). Attachment theory and psychoanalysis. American Imago, 60(2), 241-246.

Brown, L. S., & Wright, J. (2003). The relationship between attachment strategies and psychopathology in adolescence. Psychology and Psychotherapy, 76(4), 351-367.

Caffery, T., & Erdman, P. (2003). Attachment and family systems theories: Implications for family therapists. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 22(2), 3-15.

Grau, I. & Doll, J. (2003). Effects of attachment styles on the experience of equity in heterosexual couples relationships. Experimental Psychology, 50(4), 298-310.

Haight, W. L., Kagle, J. D, & Black, J. E. (2003). Understanding and supporting parent-child relationships during foster care visits: Attachment theory and research. Social Work, 48(2), 195-207.

Lyddon, W. J., & Sherry, A. (2001). Developmental personality styles: An attachment theory conceptualization of personality disorders. Journal of Counseling and Development, 79(4), 405-414.

Marotta, S. A. (2002). An ecological view of attachment theory: Implications for counseling. Journal of Counseling and Development, 80(4), 507-510.

McClellan, A. C., & Killeen, M. R. (2000). Attachment theory and violence toward women by male intimate partners. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 32(4), 353-360.

Nelson, J. K. (1998). The meaning of crying based on attachment theory. Clinical Social Work Journal, 26(1), 9-22.

Nelson, D. L. & Quick, J. C. (1991). Social support and newcomer adjustment in organizations: Attachment theory at work? Journal of Organizational Behavior, 12(6), 543-554.

Pickover, S. (2002). Breaking the cycle: A clinical example of disrupting an insecure attachment system. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 24(4), 358-366.

Pistole, M. C. (1999). Caregiving in attachment relationships: A perspective for counselors. Journal of Counseling and Development, 77(4), 437-446.



Rom, E. & Mikulincer, M. (2003). Attachment theory and group processes: The association between attachment style and group-related representations, goals, memories, and functioning. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(6), 1220-1235.

Russ, E., Heim, A., & Westen, D. (2003). Parental bonding and personally pathology assessed by clinician report. Journal of Personality Disorders, 17(6), 522-535.

Safier, E. J. (2003). Seven ways that the concepts of attachment, mentalization and theory of mind transform family treatment. Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 67(3), 260-270.

Sears, W., & Sears, M. (2001). The Attachment Parenting Book: A Commonsense Guide to Understanding and Nurturing Your Baby. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

Weber, D. A. (2003). A comparison of individual psychology and attachment theory. Journal of Individual Psychology, 59(3), 246-262.

Weinfield, N. S., Sroufe, L. A., Egeland., B., & Carlson, E. A. (1999). The nature of individual differences in infant-caregiver attachment. In J. Cassidy & P. R. Shaver (Eds.), Handbook of Attachment: Theory, Research, and Clinical Implications (pp. 68-88). New York: The Guilford Press.

[AllyRae]

(Oh, and look up anything on John Bowlby, the founder of attachment theory. His basic premise is that human infants are biologically designed to emit behaviors which encourage attachment and discourage prolonged separation from the caregiver. Basically, he says it's a survival instinct...crying, rooting, smiling, cooing, etc. are all designed to eliminate the possibility of emotional and physical abandonment)

[Dolphin]

Oh AllyRae YOU ARE MY HERO!!! Thank you thank you!! I knew they had to exist!! If I could hug you right now I would!

[AllyRae]

You're very welcome! I don't know if you have access to a database to read any of the articles, but you may be able to find some of them online or in a library.

[Dolphin]

I am making it my mission to read every single one!! Thank you so much again!!

[MsMoMpls]

AllyRae- what a list!! I doubt I can get all of them but I am really interested. Most of the sites look like attachment theory rather than AP. If I was looking only for research, not theory, on AP, which ones would you suggest I start with? What program is you Masters in?

[AllyRae]

The Attachment Theory is actually based on solid research...it's fairly well established (it's been around for many years). John Bowlby actually once worked under Freud's psychoanalysis, but broke away and founded his own theory based on the biological components he believed were important in attachment. So, it's not a "theory" in the sense that there is no real basis for it. Most of the premesis are what Sears founds his beliefs on.

It's been a while since I've read these, but these are the ones that are probably the most helpful...

Nelson, J. K. (1998). The meaning of crying based on attachment theory. Clinical Social Work Journal, 26(1), 9-22.

Peluso, P. R., Peluso, J. P., White, J. F., & Kern, R. M. (2004). A comparison of attachment theory and individual psychology: A review of the literature. Journal of Counseling & Development, 82(2), 146-157.

Rothbaum, F., Weisz, J., Pott, M., Miyake, K., & Morelli, G. (2000). Attachment and culture: Security in the United States and Japan. American Psychologist, 55(10), 1093-1104.

Stams, G. J. M., Juffer, F., & van IJzendoorn, M. H. (2002). Maternal sensitivity, infant attachment, and temperament in early childhood predict adjustment in middle childhood: The case of adopted children and their biologically unrelated parents. Developmental Psychology, 38(5), 806-821.

Haight, W. L., Kagle, J. D, & Black, J. E. (2003). Understanding and supporting parent-child relationships during foster care visits: Attachment theory and research. Social Work, 48(2), 195-207.

Lyddon, W. J., & Sherry, A. (2001). Developmental personality styles: An attachment theory conceptualization of personality disorders. Journal of Counseling and Development, 79(4), 405-414.

Marotta, S. A. (2002). An ecological view of attachment theory: Implications for counseling. Journal of Counseling and Development, 80(4), 507-510.

Russ, E., Heim, A., & Westen, D. (2003). Parental bonding and personally pathology assessed by clinician report. Journal of Personality Disorders, 17(6), 522-535.


None of these really talk about AP specifically (as the term itself was coined by Dr. Sears). However, they talk about the concepts in AP...bonding, responding to cues, becoming securely attached, etc. There's actually quite a bit of research backing Sears' precepts.

LOL..I just remembered that I also have a reference list for co-sleeping and how it reduces the risk of SIDS too....LOL!

I'm 3/4 of the way finished with my masters in counseling education...but most of my research has been in the attachment, development, and psychology of children...which is where my interest in AP came from.

[Parker'smommy]

I would also recommend Our Babies, Ourselves: How Culture and Biology Shape Our Parenting by Merideth Small. It isn't and "attatchment parenting" book per se. But all of the stats and studies she conducts comes to the conclusion that not only is attatchment type parenting a better way to parent, but it's how our biology dictates us to parent. Those that don't AP are actually ignoring their biological instincts and are parenting according to cultural norms. I LOVE THIS BOOK.....very cool...it is a scientific type book but easy to read for non-scientists and parents alike!

[Dolphin]

THank you - I definitely want to read that book. My library doesn't have it though, so I'm going to try to find it elsewhere. Thanks for the suggestion!

[lula]

Yeh! I have a new Christmas book list!

This is wonderful!