The role of teacher-child relationships in characterizing early mother-child attachment influences on behavior problems in preschool

The study integrated attachment theory and developmental systems theory to examine the mediating and moderating role of teacher-child relationships in characterizing early mother-child attachment influences on behavior problems in preschool. The study used the data from National Institute of Child Health and Human Development\u27s (NICHD) Early child Care Research Network Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCEY). The results indicated that early mother-child attachment did not predict teacher-child closeness after controlling for the demographic variables and prior internalizing problems. Mother-child attachment had a statistically significant effect on teacher-child conflict; specifically, those with insecure-controlling/insecure-other attachments had higher levels of conflict than those with secure attachments. Early mother-child attachment did not have a statistically significant effect on later behavior problems after controlling for demographic variables and prior behavior problems. Teacher-child closeness did not have a statistically significant effect on either internalizing or externalizing problems after controlling for the demographic variables, early mother-child attachment behavior and prior behavior problems. Teacher-child conflict had a statistically significant effect on later behavior problems (both internalizing and externalizing problems) after controlling for the demographic variables, early mother-child attachment behavior and prior behavior problems. However, moderation analyses did not indicate that early mother-child attachment and teacher-child relationship quality interact together to significantly affect the later behavior problems. Mediation analyses also did not indicate that the relationship between early mother-child attachment and later behavior problem was mediated by teacher-child relationships either. However, an indirect effect was found such that those with insecure-controlling/insecure-other attachments had higher levels of conflict (than those with secure attachments) and such conflict was associated with higher levels of externalizing problems