The association between paternal sensitivity and infant-father attachment security: A meta-analysis of three decades of research

Lucassen, Nicole; Tharner, Anne; Van IJzendoorn, Marinus H.; Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marian J.; Volling, Brenda L.; Verhulst, Frank C.; Lambregtse-Van den Berg, Mijke P.; Tiemeier, Henning

doi:10.1037/a0025855

Cited by 296Attachment and Relationship DynamicsFamily Dynamics and RelationshipsChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

The association between paternal sensitivity and infant-father attachment security: A meta-analysis of three decades of research

Lucassen, Nicole, Tharner, Anne, Van IJzendoorn, Marinus H., Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marian J., Volling, Brenda L., Verhulst, Frank C., Lambregtse-Van den Berg, Mijke P., Tiemeier, Henning·2011·Journal of Family Psychology

DOI 10.1037/a0025855

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Abstract

For almost three decades, the association between paternal sensitivity and infant-father attachment security has been studied. The first wave of studies on the correlates of infant-father attachment showed a weak association between paternal sensitivity and infant-father attachment security (r = .13, p < .001, k = 8, N = 546). In the current paper, a meta-analysis of the association between paternal sensitivity and infant-father attachment based on all studies currently available is presented, and the change over time of the association between paternal sensitivity and infant-father attachment is investigated. Studies using an observational measure of paternal interactive behavior with the infant, and the Strange Situation Procedure to observe the attachment relationship were included. Paternal sensitivity is differentiated from paternal sensitivity combined with stimulation in the interaction with the infant. Higher levels of paternal sensitivity were associated with more infant-father attachment security (r = .12, p < .001, k = 16, N = 1,355). Fathers' sensitive play combined with stimulation was not more strongly associated with attachment security than sensitive interactions without stimulation of play. Despite possible changes in paternal role patterns, we did not find stronger associations between paternal sensitivity and infant attachment in more recent years.

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For fathers, the meta-analytic association between sensitivity and secure attachment is weaker (r = .12).
“For fathers, this meta‐analytic association is weaker (r = .12; Lucassen et al., 2011)”
From Birth of a Father: Fathering in the First 1,000 Days (2019) · cites this paper as Lucassen et al., 2011

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Authors: Lucassen, N., Tharner, A., Van IJzendoorn, M. H., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J., Volling, B. L., Verhulst, F. C., Lambregtse-Van den Berg, M. P., & Tiemeier, H.
Affiliations: Erasmus MC (NL)
Leiden University (NL)
University of Michigan (US)
ORCID: Lucassen, Nicole
Tharner, Anne
Volling, Brenda L.
Verhulst, Frank C.
Tiemeier, Henning
Venue: Journal of Family Psychology
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 2011
Volume: 25
Issue: 6
Pages: 986-992
ISSN: 0893-3200 (ISSN-L)
1939-1293
DOI: 10.1037/a0025855
OpenAlex: W2153344339
Cited by: 296
References: 44
Citations by year: 2026: 9 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 38 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 42 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 7
FWCI: 1.21
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Journal of Family Psychology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
VU Research Portal (publishedVersion)
EUR Research Repository (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion)
Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords: paternal sensitivity, attachment security, father-infant interaction, Strange Situation Procedure
MeSH terms: Adult, Father-Child Relations, Fathers, Humans, Infant, Male, Object Attachment

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The association between paternal sensitivity and infant-father attachment security: A meta-analysis of three decades of research

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