Cited by 495Attachment and Relationship DynamicsChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research

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The significance of attachment security for children’s social competence with peers: a meta-analytic study

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Groh, Ashley M., Fearon, R. Pasco, Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marian J., van IJzendoorn, Marinus H., Steele, Ryan D., Roisman, Glenn I.·2014·Attachment & Human Development

DOI 10.1080/14616734.2014.883636PMC PMC4021853

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Abstract

This meta-analytic review examines the association between attachment during the early life course and social competence with peers during childhood, and compares the strength of this association with those for externalizing and internalizing symptomatology. Based on 80 independent samples (N = 4441), the association between security and peer competence was significant (d = 0.39, CI 0.32; 0.47) and not moderated by the age at which peer competence was assessed. Avoidance (d = 0.17, CI 0.05; 0.30), resistance (d = 0.29, CI 0.09; 0.48), and disorganization (d = 0.25, CI 0.10; 0.40) were significantly associated with lower peer competence. Attachment security was significantly more strongly associated with peer competence than internalizing (but not externalizing) symptomatology. Discussion focuses on the significance of early attachment for the development of peer competence versus externalizing and internalizing psychopathology.

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BackgroundInfluential
Fathers in Child Psychotherapy
von Klitzing, K., & White, L. O. (2020) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-51027-5_37 · Cited by 5
Understanding and Evaluating the Moral World in Infancy
Hamlin, J. K., & Sitch, M. J. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108351959.028 · Cited by 6
Socioemotional Mechanisms of Children’s Differential Response to the Effects of Maternal Sensitivity on Child Adjustment
Somers, J. A., & Luecken, L. J. (2020) · Parenting · doi:10.1080/15295192.2020.1809955 · Cited by 7
“Children with insecure attachment are at heightened risk for psychopathology (Fearon, BakermansKranenburg, van IJzendoorn, Lapsley, & Roisman, 2010; Madigan, Atkinson, Laurin, & Benoit, 2013), especially externalizing behavior problems (Groh et al., 2014, 2017).”
Background
Attachment quality in adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury
Снегирева, Т. В., & Воликова, С. В. (2020) · Journal of Modern Foreign Psychology · doi:10.17759/jmfp.2020090406 · Cited by 5
“Они сообщают о меньшем уровне воспринимаемой поддержки со стороны семьи и друзей [16; 26], большей тяжести депрессивной симптоматики [16], демонстрируют больше агрессии, хуже включаются в направленное на решение проблем общение с родителями [6], менее социально компетентны [48], проявляют неадаптивные способы совладан…”
Disorganized attachment behaviors in infancy as predictors of brain morphology and peer rejection in late childhood
Leblanc, É., Dégeilh, F., Beauchamp, M. H., & Bernier, A. (2022) · Cognitive Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.3758/s13415-022-00987-0 · Cited by 5
Bindung und kognitive sowie motorische Entwicklung in den ersten fünf Jahren nach der Adoption: Ein Review über international adoptierte Kinder aus China/ Attachment and Cognitive and Motor Development in the First Years after Adoption: A Review of Studies on Internationally Adopted Children from China
Juffer, F., Finet, C., Vermeer, H. J., & van den Dries, L. (2015) · Praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie · doi:10.13109/prkk.2015.64.10.774 · Cited by 5
Klinische Bindungsforschung
Bolten, M. I. (2018) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-57369-3_4 · Cited by 5
Institutional childcare services in Harare, Zimbabwe: exploring experiences of managers, caregivers and children
Chinyenze, P. (2017) · Cited by 5
Commentary: the link between attachment and social competence in early childhood
Waters, H. S. (2019) · Attachment & Human Development · doi:10.1080/14616734.2019.1575552 · Cited by 5
“Readers are reminded that there is a rich, and well-established literature on the positive relation between secure attachment and social competence (e.g., Groh et al., 2014), and yet the explanation of that relation has remained in general terms.”
Background
Turning Points in the Assessment and Clinical Applications of Individual Differences in Attachment
Crittenden, P. M., Spieker, S. J., & Farnfield, S. (2021) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/obo/9780199828340-0271 · Cited by 6
Evaluating the use of the AMBIANCE‐Brief measure in clinical settings: Assessing acceptability, feasibility, and utility of the AMBIANCE‐Brief
Eirich, R., Pador, P., Watt, J., Racine, N. M., Lyons‐Ruth, K., & Madigan, S. L. (2024) · Infant Mental Health Journal · doi:10.1002/imhj.22115 · Cited by 4
The Childhood Experiences of Disorganization and Role Reversal Scale: Relations with Childhood Adversity, Internalizing Problems, and Well-Being in Young Adulthood
Nair, T. K., Kuma, N.-A. A., Brumariu, L. E., & Bureau, J. (2024) · Journal of Adult Development · doi:10.1007/s10804-024-09474-x · Cited by 4
“Children with greater disorganization show poor emotion regulation (Brumariu, 2015) and more difficulties in peer relationships (Groh et al., 2014).”
Social-emotional development in adolescents: The role of peer interaction, social media engagement, and self-esteem
Rachman, Y. A., Sumarwan, U., Latifah, M., & Herawati, T. (2025) · Multidisciplinary Science Journal · doi:10.31893/multiscience.2025363 · Cited by 8
“Teenagers who experience secure attachment with parents and peers show positive outcomes such as higher self-esteem, better academic achievement, better emotion regulation, and greater social competence (Groh et al., 2014).”
Social-emotional functioning in planned lesbian families: does biological versus non-biological mother status matter? An Italian pilot study
Barone, L., Carta, A., & Öztürk, Y. (2018) · Attachment & Human Development · doi:10.1080/14616734.2018.1528620 · Cited by 4
“…wellbeing of parents and children, scant research has thus far been conducted using these constructs on planned lesbian parent families, compared to the considerable amount of results on heterosexual families (Fearon, Groh, BakermansKranenburg, van IJzendoorn, & Roisman, 2016; Groh et al., 2014).”
Result
VIII. CONCLUSION: CO-CONSTRUCTING A SECURE BASE PARTNERSHIP: MOTHER–CHILD INTERACTIONS, COMMUNICATION, AND SCRIPT REPRESENTATIONS
Posada, G., & Waters, H. S. (2018) · Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development · doi:10.1111/mono.12395 · Cited by 4
Development and Psychometric Properties of a New Self-Report Questionnaire Measuring Attachment in School-Age Children: The Attachment in Middle Childhood Questionnaire (AMCQ)
Marci, T., Moscardino, U. M. M., Santona, A. M. R., Lionetti, F., Pastore, M., & Altoè, G. (2020) · Assessment · doi:10.1177/1073191120978813 · Cited by 4
“The quality of attachment relationships plays a key role in infants’ social and emotional adjustment (Boldt et al., 2016; Booth-LaForce et al., 2014; Groh et al., 2012; Groh et al., 2014).”
Background
Preschool predictors of loneliness in school‐age children
Evans, L. M., Hopkins, J., Lavigne, J. V., & Gouze, K. R. (2023) · Social Development · doi:10.1111/sode.12676 · Cited by 5
Attachment-based Prevention Program Involving Mothers and Fathers: Seven-year Post-Intervention Outcomes of a Randomized Control Trial
Walter, I., Quehenberger, J., Landers, S., & Brisch, K. H. (2024) · Journal of Child and Family Studies · doi:10.1007/s10826-023-02762-2 · Cited by 5
“Secure attachment is a protective factor promoting healthy development, including better self-regulation of emotion, behavior and cognition, and higher social competence (Groh et al., 2014; Pallini et al., 2018).”
A challenge to the expected: Lack of longitudinal associations between the early caregiving environment, executive functions in toddlerhood, and self‐regulation at 6 years
Jónsdóttir, L. K., Forslund, T., Frick, M. A., Frick, A., Heeman, E. J., & Brocki, K. C. (2024) · Developmental Science · doi:10.1111/desc.13526 · Cited by 4
Racial/ethnic disparities in academic achievement in U.S. middle schools: An integrated multilevel modeling approach
Yun, H.-Y., & Low, S. K. (2024) · Journal of School Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jsp.2024.101377 · Cited by 9
RETRACTED: Heritability of children's Secure Base Script Knowledge in middle childhood: a twin study with the Attachment Script Assessment
Runze, J., Witte, A. M., van IJzendoorn, M. H., & Bakermans‐Kranenburg, M. J. (2024) · Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry · doi:10.1111/jcpp.14089 · Cited by 4
“…predicts that early attachment (in)security affects children’s relationships with peers later in childhood (Sroufe, Egeland, Carlson, & Collins, 2005), and meta-analytically, rather substantial predictive associations have been found between attachment and peer competence (Groh et al., 2014).”
Retracted
Maternal Sensitivity Predicts Child Attachment in a Non-Western Context: A 9-Year Longitudinal Study of Chinese Families
Waters, T. E. A., Yang, R., Gu, Y., Zhu, V., Cui, L., Li, X., Way, N., Yoshikawa, H., Chen, X., Okazaki, S., et al. (2025) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/cdev.14256 · Cited by 4
Scripted attachment representations and adaptive functioning during early childhood
Nichols, O. I., Vaughn, B. E., Lu, T. R., Krzysik, L., & El‐Sheikh, M. (2019) · Attachment & Human Development · doi:10.1080/14616734.2019.1575551 · Cited by 4
“Previous studies have shown similar small tomoderate influences of children’s attachment on SC during early childhood, including three meta-analyses (Groh et al., 2014; Pallini et al., 2014; Schneider et al., 2001), and similar findings have been reported with teacher’s ratings of children’s social…”
BackgroundResultInfluential
Serotonergic sensitivity alleles moderate relations between attachment security at age three and socioemotional competence at age five
Lee, J., Schoppe‐Sullivan, S. J., & Beauchaine, T. P. (2020) · Developmental Psychobiology · doi:10.1002/dev.22042 · Cited by 4
Can Psychodynamically Oriented Early Prevention for “Children-at-Risk” in Urban Areas With High Social Problem Density Strengthen Their Developmental Potential? A Cluster Randomized Trial of Two Kindergarten-Based Prevention Programs
Fischmann, T., Asseburg, L., Green, J., Hug, F., Neubert, V., Wan, M. W., & Leuzinger‐Bohleber, M. (2020) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.599477 · Cited by 4
Stress‐induced plasma cortisol concentrations in infancy are associated with later parenting behaviors in female rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)
Wood, E. K., Halter, C. M., Gabrielle, N., Capitanio, J. P., & Higley, J. D. (2021) · Developmental Psychobiology · doi:10.1002/dev.22098 · Cited by 5
“Mothers that are sensitive to their infants’ state and needs are more likely to produce a secure attachment, which leads to positive adjustment and social outcomes in their developing offspring (Brunelli et al., 2014; Groh et al., 2014).”
Health-Related Quality of Life according to the Socioeconomic Status of Living Areas in Iranian Children and Adolescents: Weight Disorders Survey.
Kelishadi, R., Safiri, S., Djalalinia, S., Miranzadeh, S., Motlagh, M. E., Asayesh, H., Beshtar, S., Mansourian, M., Gorabi, A. M., Safari, O., et al. (2019) · Europe PMC (PubMed Central) · doi:10.30476/ijms.2019.40618 · Cited by 4
Feeling Fat and Depressed? Dimensions of Self‐Concept That Affect Men
McGregor, C. C., Kaminski, P. L., & McFarland, M. B. (2020) · Journal of College Counseling · doi:10.1002/jocc.12155 · Cited by 5
Infant Emotional Development
Mitsven, S. G., Messinger, D. S., Moffitt, J., & Ahn, Y. A. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108351959.027 · Cited by 6
Patrones de Disponibilidad Emocional y los Problemas de Salud Mental del Pre-escolar
Rodríguez, L. G., Maqueo, E. L. G., & Santacana, M. F. I. (2018) · Acta de Investigación Psicológica · doi:10.22201/fpsi.20074719e.2018.1.04 · Cited by 4
Beziehungen zu Gleichaltrigen
Siegler, R. S., Eisenberg, N., DeLoache, J. S., & Saffran, J. R. (2016) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-47028-2_13 · Cited by 4
Developmental Models and Mechanisms for Understanding the Effects of Early Experiences on Psychological Development
O’Connor, T. G. (2016) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781119125556.devpsy105 · Cited by 4
Disentangling the Effects of Exposure to Maternal Substance Misuse and Physical Abuse and Neglect on Child Behavioral Problems
Wong, R. S., Tung, K. T. S., Cheng, A. W. F., Shiu, Y. K., Wong, W. H. S., Tso, W. W. Y., Ho, M. S. P., Chan, K. L., Ho, F. K. W., Lo, C. K. M., et al. (2021) · Journal of Interpersonal Violence · doi:10.1177/0886260519849661 · Cited by 4
“According to attachment theory, children use early experiences with parents as the internal social and cognitive references to guide subsequent psychosocial behavior such as social interaction and communication behavior (Groh et al., 2014).”
Background
The association between children’s social-emotional well-being in early childhood education and care and social competence
Phạm-Đào, H., Sevón, E., Koivula, M., Vuorenmaa, M., & Räikkönen, E. (2025) · Early Child Development and Care · doi:10.1080/03004430.2025.2462187 · Cited by 4
“…influenced by temperament (Beauchamp & Anderson, 2010) and environmental factors, such as sensitive caregiving in a secure attachment (e.g. Campbell et al., 2016; Groh et al., 2014) and supportive interactions with ECEC staff (Blewitt et al., 2020; Pakar-inen et al., 2018; Soininen et al., 2023).”
Paternal involvement and peer competence in young children: the mediating role of playfulness
Liang, C., & Bi, X. (2025) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1477432 · Cited by 3
A secure base script perspective on attachment: progress, promise, and prospects
Waters, T. E. A., Zhu, V. L., & Roisman, G. I. (2025) · Advances in child development and behavior · doi:10.1016/bs.acdb.2025.07.002 · Cited by 4
Variation in Evidence-Based Practices Among Youth-Serving Residential Treatment Facilities
Herbell, K., Breitenstein, S. M., Ault, S., & Price, M. (2022) · Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association · doi:10.1177/10783903221120828 · Cited by 3
“Some children in RT have experienced early life adversity which is associated with impaired social competence with peers later in life (Groh et al., 2014).”
Background
Improving Attachment Security in Early Childhood Intervention: A Framework From Constructivist Grounded Theory
Alexander, S. L., Frederico, M., & Long, M. (2022) · Journal of Early Intervention · doi:10.1177/10538151221142794 · Cited by 6
“, 2018), social skills (Groh et al., 2014), and resilience (Tharner et al.”
Background
How is School Climate Related to Adolescent Prosocial Behavior? A Moderated Mediation Analysis
Wang, Z., Xie, Z.-Y., & Li, C. (2024) · Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal · doi:10.1007/s10560-024-00960-5 · Cited by 4
“…competence generally refers to an individual’s ability to optimize their social behavior based on existing relevant information (Taborsky & Oliveira, 2012), which is closely linked with several social skills including making friends, empathy, helpfulness, and social awareness (Groh et al., 2014).”
Perinatal Predictors and Mediators of Attachment Patterns in Preschool Children: Exploration of Children’s Contributions in Interactions with Mothers
Kurbatfinski, S., Woo, J., Ntanda, H. N., Giesbrecht, G. F., & Letourneau, N. L. (2024) · Children · doi:10.3390/children11081022 · Cited by 3
“Children’s attachment patterns are linked to long-term health outcomes [1–3] and thought to reflect the historical and concurrent quality of children’s interactions with their primary caregivers/parents, usually mothers [4,5].”
Background
Identifying subgroups of individuals based on their epistemic stance, attachment dimensions and childhood trauma: A latent profile analysis
Delamain, H., Saunders, R., Tanzer, M., Luyten, P., Fonagy, P., & Campbell, C. (2024) · Journal of Psychiatric Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.12.033 · Cited by 3
The effectiveness of Nurture Groups at supporting social and emotional outcomes: a systematic review
Jones, B., Wood‐Downie, H., & Golm, D. (2025) · Children and Youth Services Review · doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108278 · Cited by 3
Relationship between social network engagement through smartphone and peer relationship trajectory Patterns: From late childhood to mid adolescence
Yoo, C. (2025) · Children and Youth Services Review · doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108327 · Cited by 3
Adverse Childhood Experiences Increase Peer Victimization among Early Adolescents: the Longitudinal Mediating Roles of Executive Function and Social Anxiety
Chen, Y., Wei, J., Wang, H., Zhang, J., Peng, H., & Li, Q. (2025) · Journal of Youth and Adolescence · doi:10.1007/s10964-025-02267-9 · Cited by 3
Exploring the Effects of Attachment Security and Playfulness on Social Competence among 4-year-old Preschool Children
Choi, J.-Y., & Shin, N. (2016) · Korean Journal of Childcare and Education · doi:10.14698/jkcce.2016.12.02.219 · Cited by 3
The Infant’s Visual World
Jayaraman, S., & Smith, L. B. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108351959.020 · Cited by 2
Visual Development
Maurer, D. M. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108351959.006 · Cited by 3

Authors: Groh, A. M., Fearon, R. P., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J., van IJzendoorn, M. H., Steele, R. D., & Roisman, G. I.
Affiliations: ,
Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK
University of Minnesota (US)
Corresponding author: Groh, Ashley M.
ORCID: Groh, Ashley M.
Roisman, Glenn I.
Venue: Attachment & Human Development
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Published: 2014-02-18
Volume: 16
Issue: 2
Pages: 103-136
ISSN: 1461-6734 (ISSN-L)
1469-2988
DOI: 10.1080/14616734.2014.883636
PMC: PMC4021853
OpenAlex: W1980337381
Cited by: 495
References: 131
Citations by year: 2026: 30 · 2025: 45 · 2024: 40 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 48 · 2021: 38 · 2020: 71 · 2019: 45 · 2018: 44 · 2017: 39 · 2016: 32 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 8
FWCI: 48.06
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Locations: Attachment & Human Development (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) (submittedVersion)
UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
UNC Libraries
Funders: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (T32-HD07376)
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (T32HD007376)
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 security, peer social competence, attachment avoidance, disorganized attachment, externalizing problems, internalizing problems, early attachment, child psychopathology
MeSH terms: Anomie, Child, Child, Preschool, Father-Child Relations, Female, Humans, Infant, Internal-External Control, Male, Mother-Child Relations, Object Attachment, Peer Group, Personality Disorders, Social Adjustment, Reactive Attachment Disorder

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The significance of attachment security for children’s social competence with peers: a meta-analytic study

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