Attachment classifications were obtained from the Strange Situation
at 15 months and at 4 years for a sample of 82 low socioeconomic status
rural Appalachian children. The rate of secure attachment in infancy
was 50.5%, and the majority of insecure infants were disorganized. At 4
years of age 61.2% of children were secure; early secure relationships
were likely to be maintained, and about half of the insecure infants
changed to a secure classification by 4 years. Overall, there was low
but significant stability in attachment at the level of
secure/insecure. Comparisons of (a) children who changed from
insecure to secure with those who were stable insecure and (b) stable
secure children with those who changed from secure to insecure
identified contextual, child, and maternal interaction factors
associated with attaining secure attachment. Assessments of cognitive
and socioemotional competence at 4 years and kindergarten age suggested
a protective effect of secure infant attachment but little benefit from
secure preschool attachment.This study
was supported by Grants MCJ-540615 and R40 MC 00091 from the Maternal
and Child Health Bureau (Title V, Social Security Act), Health
Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human
Services and by Grant MH48395 from the National Institute of Mental
Health, Department of Health and Human Services. Thanks to the families
who participated and the Lincoln Primary Care Center Board of Directors
and staff.