Collaborative Research: Caregiver-Child Proximity and Attachment Security

儿童与父母/照顾者之间的依恋关系的质量对他们的整体幸福感和未来的关系有着深远的影响。先前的研究强调了照顾者敏感性（例如，反应性和养育性照顾）在培养安全依恋关系中的重要性。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可能同样重要。为了进一步探索这一点，我们开发了一种叫做TotTags的可穿戴设备，可以测量孩子和他们的照顾者在日常生活中的身体距离。在这个项目中，我们的目标是研究日常照顾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程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，为家庭内部和家庭之间的联系模式提供了更深入的了解。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，这些基础知识还有助于为首次为人父母的人举办讲习班，向他们提供有关儿童发展和照料行为的基本知识，以促进健康的关系。本研究旨在探讨幼儿与父母/照顾者之间的身体接近与依恋安全的关系。为了实现这些目标，研究小组采用了一种混合方法，将自然观察与实验室评估相结合。考虑到定期密切接触、支持孩子探索、欢迎孩子回来的重要性，该项目利用名为TotTags的可穿戴设备，在整整一周的日常生活中，以每秒为单位测量孩子和他们的照顾者之间的物理接近模式。本研究项目的目标是研究日常照顾者与儿童的互动如何与依恋安全相关联，并探索表征安全依恋关系的因素。具体来说，我们测试了与照顾者的敏感性相比，身体接近的时间是否能更好地解释特定亲子关系中的依恋安全，以及接近和敏感性的潜在相互作用。通过收集有幼儿的不同家庭样本的数据，该研究旨在为这些家庭的日常生活以及家庭内部和家庭之间的联系模式提供有价值的见解。这项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。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，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.