Fathers in attachment theory and research: a review
Abstract
This paper provides a brief history of attachment research on fathers as a backdrop against which the other contributions to this volume can be viewed. Empirical research on child–father attachment progressed in four phases and began before Bowlby in 1969 published the first volume of his attachment trilogy. During each phase a different set of questions emerged. Initially, researchers compared fathers to mothers as potential attachment figures. More recent studies emphasize the notion that mothers’ and fathers’ roles as attachment figures and their influences on child outcomes may be different and complementary. At the same time, calls for a family approach to attachment studies are increasing.
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Attachment relationships with mothers and fathers can be different and complementary and thus specific to the parent.
“First, attachment theory describes that both infants’ and adolescents’ attachment relationships with their mothers and their father can be different and complementary and thus specific to the parent (Ainsworth 1989; Bretherton 2010; Thomson 2016).”
From Perceived Quality of the Mother–Adolescent and Father–Adolescent Attachment Relationship and Adolescents’ Self-Esteem (2019) · cites this paper as Bretherton 2010
Cites
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- Authors
- Bretherton, I.
- Affiliations
- University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
- Corresponding author
- Bretherton, Inge
- Venue
- Early Child Development and Care
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2010-01
- Volume
- 180
- Issue
- 1-2
- Pages
- 9-23
- ISSN
- 0300-4430 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-8275
- OpenAlex
- W1985072567
- Cited by
- 296
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 47 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 15.74
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Early Child Development and Care (publishedVersion)
- 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
- fathers, attachment theory, attachment figures, child outcomes
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