Secure attachment promotes the development of effortful control in boys

Abstract

Although effortful control (EC), a regulatory aspect of temperament, is associated with a wide range of developmental outcomes, knowledge about EC promoters is scarce. This study explored whether secure attachment promoted the development of EC from preschool to school age in a community sample of 903 Norwegian children. EC was measured using the parent-reported Children’s Behavior Questionnaire at four (T1) and six (T2) years of age, and attachment was measured using the Manchester Child Attachment Story Task at T1. Previous research has indicated that a child’s gender and socioeconomic status are possible covariates of EC; hence, these factors were included in the analyses. Despite considerable rank-order stability in EC, secure attachment contributed to an increase in EC. Furthermore, gender moderated the effect of attachment: secure attachment promoted EC in boys only. These findings emphasize preschool boys’ need for emotional security to facilitate effortful capacities in their transition to school.

Keywords:

• effortful control
• attachment
• self-regulation
• temperament
• gender, longitudinal

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to all of the children and caregivers who participated in the Trondheim Early Secure Study (TESS).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Research Council of Norway [grant number 228685/H10], [grant number 190622/V50], [grant number 185760/V50], [grant number 186106/V50] and the Liaison Committee between the Central Norway RHA and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology [grant number 4396].