Validity of the TAS-45 as a measure of toddler–parent attachment: preliminary evidence from Early Head Start families

Abstract

A new observational measure of attachment strategies in the home, the Toddler Attachment Sort-45 (TAS-45) was completed for 59 18- to 36-month-old recipients of EHS. Mothers completed the Brief Infant Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (BITSEA); children were tested on the Preschool Language Scale (PLS-4); and a mother–child snack was videotaped and coded for dyadic mutuality. The TAS-45 Security score was associated with more dyadic mutuality, higher language and competence scores, and lower problem scores. Discriminant validity was evidenced by a lack of associations with the TAS-45 Dependence score. The TAS-45 Disorganized “hotspot” (cluster) score also showed expected associations with these outcomes. Results are discussed in terms of next steps for use of the TAS-45 in research and practice.

Keywords:

• attachment
• mother–child interaction
• toddlers
• home visiting
• Early Head Start

Acknowledgements

This research was supported in part by grants from the Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Children and Families, 90YF0048; and the National Institutes of Health through the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research, 5 T32 RR023256-02, and the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, P30-HD02274.