Cited by 317Attachment and Relationship DynamicsChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research

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Meta-analytic evidence for stability in attachments from infancy to early adulthood

Pinquart, Martin, Feußner, Christina, Ahnert, Lieselotte·2013·Attachment & Human Development

DOI 10.1080/14616734.2013.746257

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Abstract

The present meta-analysis integrates results from 127 papers on attachment stability towards mothers and fathers, respectively, from infancy to early adulthood. More than twenty-one thousand attachments (n = 21,072) and 225 time intervals were explored, ranging from half a month to 29 years (348 months). An overall coefficient of r = .39 between times T1 and T2 was obtained, reflecting a medium-sized stability of attachment security. However, no significant stability was found in intervals larger than 15 years. Coefficients are higher for time intervals of less than two years compared to time spans of more than five years, if attachments were assessed beyond infancy using representational rather than behavioral measures and if normal middle class as opposed to at-risk samples were involved. Furthermore, securely attached children at risk were less likely to maintain attachment security whereas insecurely attached children at risk most likely maintained insecurity.

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“This subset was chosen to reflect the formative period when attachment security is most malleable (Opie et al. 2021; Pinquart, Feußner, and Ahnert 2013).”
Somatic Interventions and Depth of Experiencing in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy
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“The implicit memories and processes, learned adaptive responses, and attachment strategies impact our ability to form and maintain romantic relationships throughout our life (Beebe & Lachmann, 2002; Masero, 2017; Pinquart et al., 2013; Singer & Willett, 2003; Stern, 2008).”
Background
Current Perspectives on the Management of Reactive Attachment Disorder in Early Education
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Attachment Concepts and Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours in Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
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“Evidence suggests that attachment is modifiable, with shifts between security and insecurity following changes in close relationship quality during adolescence and young adult-hood (Booth-LaForce et al. 2014; McConnell and Moss 2011; Pinquart et al. 2013).”
Associations of BDSM fantasies and practices with insecure attachment styles
Tierens, E., Coppens, V., Zeeuw, I. D., Wuyts, E., Goethals, K., Claes, L., & Morrens, M. (2025) · Psychology & Sexuality · doi:10.1080/19419899.2025.2527641 · Cited by 2
“…maintaining stable attachment patterns over time, while the remaining half may experience shifts between secure and insecure orientations depending on relational experiences, life transitions or interventions (Davila et al., 1999; Fraley & Roisman, 2019; Pinquart et al., 2013; Waters et al., 2000).”
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“A meta-analysis of 127 papers found that there is a mod - erate ( r = .39) relationship between childhood attachment style and adult attachment style (Pinquart et al., 2013).”
Attachment representations in pre‐adolescents at familial high risk of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and population‐based controls—Characteristics of attachment from middle childhood to pre‐adolescence, and its relation to parental functioning and child mental disorder
Krantz, M. F., Gregersen, M., Veddum, L., Hjorthøj, C. R., Prøsch, Å. K., Ohland, J., Brandt, J. M., Rohd, S. B., Knudsen, C. B., Andreassen, A. K., et al. (2024) · JCPP Advances · doi:10.1002/jcv2.12274 · Cited by 2
“The metanalytical evidence of only moderate stability of attachment from infancy to early adulthood (Bateson, 2023; Bel-sky, 1997; Pinquart et al., 2013) suggests that the child's attachment representations, and thus sense of security, continue to be malleable throughout childhood.”
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“…demonstrating the short-and long-term stability of adult attachment security and the predictive significance of secure adult attachment representations for functioning within close relationships, particularly those established with offspring (Pinquart et al., 2013; Verhage et al., 2016).”
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“Pinquart et al. (2013) found that attachment stability dropped after the preschool period in their meta-analysis study.”
Background
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“Contact with friends is more important than contact with adult children and other family members in preventing loneliness [20] and the chronic unavailability of social partners with whom to enjoy social activities have been associated with greater loneliness [21].”
Background
Effects of measurement aggregation on predicting externalizing problems from preschool behaviour
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Psychopathic Traits and Insecure Attachment Patterns in Community-based Subgroups
Carter, R. M. (2014) · doi:10.12794/metadc699993 · Cited by 3
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“Meta-analytic evidence indicates modest attachment stability across childhood (N = 6,024, r = .28; Opie et al., 2021), but limited stability from infancy to adulthood (N = 784, r = .14; Pinquart et al., 2013).”
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“…by previous longitudinal studies, showing that developmental recovery in maltreated children can take a long time, and some of the effects of these early adversities are likely to linger even into adulthood (Howe, 1998; Kisely et al., 2018; Pinquart et al., 2013; Raby et al., 2017; Simmel, 2007).”
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“…the attachment quality formed in infancy has been shown as relatively stable in later stages of life, across close relationships (Fraley, 2002; Pinquart et al. 2013) and cultures (Mesman et al. 2016), it continues to be sensitive to parenting quality in childhood and its eco-cultural context…”
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“There are generally stronger associations between relatively similar types of measures (Pinquart et al., 2013), which raises issues related to common-method variance.”
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“…stability over time, not only remaining stable throughout early childhood but also showing resistance to change even into adulthood (12–72 months, r = 0.37, N = 1188, Fraley, 2002; 12–75 months, r = 0.28, N = 6024, Opie et al., 2021; 0.5–348 months, r = 0.39, N = 21072, Pinquart et al., 2013).”
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“This discontinuity is most evident between childhood and adolescence, as the attachment system changes and reorganizes during this period of transition to adulthood [51,52].”
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“Also, it is possible that, in the case of security scores, the brief interval between measurements and the utilization of the same instrument at both time points account for this result (see Opie et al., 2020; Pinquart et al., 2013).”
Influential
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“Research suggests a relative continuity of attachment style from infancy through adulthood (Fraley, 2002; Groh et al., 2014; Pinquart et al., 2013).”
Background

Authors: Pinquart, M., Feußner, C., & Ahnert, L.
Affiliations: Philipps University of Marburg (DE)
University of Vienna (AT)
Corresponding author: Pinquart, Martin
ORCID: Pinquart, Martin
Ahnert, Lieselotte
Venue: Attachment & Human Development
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Published: 2013-03
Volume: 15
Issue: 2
Pages: 189-218
ISSN: 1461-6734 (ISSN-L)
1469-2988
DOI: 10.1080/14616734.2013.746257
OpenAlex: W2003695103
Cited by: 317
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 19 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 67 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 1
FWCI: 17.37
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Attachment & Human Development (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
Keywords: attachment stability, attachment security, maternal attachment, paternal attachment, time interval effects, insecure attachment, vulnerable children
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Age Factors, Child, Child, Preschool, Humans, Infant, Object Attachment, Parent-Child Relations, Risk Factors, Young Adult

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Meta-analytic evidence for stability in attachments from infancy to early adulthood

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