Collaborative Research: Caregiver-Child Proximity and Attachment Security

儿童与其父母/照顾者之间的依恋关系的质量对他们的整体福祉和未来的关系有着深远的影响。以前的研究强调了照顾者敏感性的重要性（例如，响应和养育护理）在培养安全的依恋关系。然而，定期的亲密接触，支持孩子的探索，欢迎孩子的回归对于安全依恋的发展同样重要。为了进一步探索这一点，我们开发了一种名为TotTags的可穿戴设备，可以测量儿童和他们的照顾者在日常生活中的物理距离。在这个项目中，我们的目标是研究日常看护者与儿童的互动如何与依恋安全相关联。通过将照顾者和儿童的身体接近度与照顾者的敏感性相结合，我们试图确定在建立安全依恋关系中最具影响力的因素。此外，这项研究为有幼儿的家庭的日常生活提供了有价值的见解，使人们更深入地了解家庭内部和家庭之间的接触模式。该项目的研究结果有可能促进心理学和发展科学的知识，并为儿童和家庭的干预和支持工作提供信息。此外，基础知识还可用于为初为人父母者举办的工作坊，为他们提供有关儿童发展和促进健康关系的行为的基本知识。本研究项目旨在研究婴儿与父母/照顾者之间的关系中，婴儿与儿童的身体接近与依恋安全之间的关系。为了实现这些目标，研究小组采用了混合方法，将自然观察与基于实验室的评估相结合。鉴于定期密切接触、支持儿童探索和欢迎儿童回归的理论重要性，该项目利用名为TotTags的可穿戴设备来测量儿童与其照顾者在一周内的日常生活中的身体接近模式。本研究的目的是探讨日常亲子互动与依恋安全性的关系，并探讨安全依恋关系的特征因素。具体来说，我们测试是否在密切的物理接近的时间，相比照顾者的敏感性，更好地解释了在一个给定的亲子二分体的附件安全性，以及潜在的相互作用的接近和敏感性。通过从不同的有幼儿的家庭样本中收集数据，该研究旨在提供有关这些家庭日常生活以及家庭内部和家庭之间联系模式的宝贵见解。该研究项目的成果有可能为儿童和家庭的干预和支持工作提供信息，有助于制定有效的预防和干预战略。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The quality of the attachment relationship between children and their parents/caregivers has a profound impact on their overall well-being and future relationships. Previous research has emphasized the importance of caregiver sensitivity (e.g., responsive and nurturing care) in fostering secure attachment relationships. However, regular close contact, support of child exploration, and welcoming the child’s return may be equally significant for the development of a secure attachments. To explore this further, we have developed wearable devices called TotTags that measure the physical proximity between children and their caregivers in their everyday lives. In this project, we aim to examine how everyday caregiver–child interactions are associated with attachment security. By combining measures of caregiver and child physical proximity with caregiver sensitivity, we seek to determine the factors that are most influential in establishing secure attachment relationships. Additionally, this study offers valuable insights into the daily lives of families with young children, providing a deeper understanding of contact patterns within and across families. The findings from this project have the potential to advance knowledge in psychology and developmental science, as well as inform interventions and support efforts for children and families. Furthermore, the foundation knowledge can contribute to a workshop for first-time parents, providing them with essential knowledge about child development and caregiving behaviors to promote healthy relationships.This research project aims to study the relationship between caregiver–child physical proximity and attachment security in the relationships between infants and their parents/caregivers. To achieve these goals, the research team employs a mixed-methods approach, combining naturalistic observations with laboratory-based assessments. Given the theorized importance of regular close contact, support of child exploration, and welcoming the child's return, the project utilizes wearable devices called TotTags to measure patterns of physical proximity, on a second-by-second level, between children and their caregivers in their everyday lives across one full week. The goals of this research project are to examine how everyday caregiver–child interactions are associated with attachment security and to explore the factors that characterize secure attachment relationships. Specifically, we test whether time in close physical proximity, compared to caregiver sensitivity, better explains attachment security within a given parent–child dyad, as well as the potential interaction of proximity and sensitivity. By collecting data from a diverse sample of families with young children, the study aims to provide valuable insights into the daily lives of these families and the patterns of contact within and across families. The outcomes of this research project have the potential to inform interventions and support efforts for children and families, contributing to the development of effective prevention and intervention strategies.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.