Attachment in everyday life

Attachment in everyday life

1. The impact of day care

   • Violata and Russell
     • Meta-analysis = 20+ hours was negative
   • NICHD
     • Full-time DC = 3X more likely to have behaviour problems
     • 83% 10-30 hrs did not show higher levels of aggression
     • Mother's sensitivity to her child was a better indicator than DC
     • No cause and effect link
   • Belsky et al
     • At the end of primary, link between DC and aggressiveness
   • Belsky and Rovine
     • Infants in DC were more likely to be insecurely attached
       • DC children form less successful peer relations
   • Brown and Harris
     • Many mothers become depressed due to staying at home
   • Clarke-Stewart et al
     • DC infants could negotiate better with peers
     • DC is not the only factor
   • Field
     • Time in DC +ve correlated to no of friends at school

2. Evaluation

   • DC is not harmful if substitute care is provided
     • Robertson and Robertson
   • Gregg et al
     • Only children affected are those who are cared by an unpaid person
       • Carers feel less responsibility for emotional care
   • Some children find it harder to cope with DC
   • No clear effects of day care on social development
     • All the evidence is contradictory

3. Implications of research

   • Attachment research
     • Bowlby has changed the adoption times
     • Robertson's affected visiting in hospitals
   • Day-care research
     • Low child to staff ratios
     • Minimal staff turnover
     • Qualified staff
     • Sensitive emotional care
     • Legally controlled standards of DC
     • Ofsted inspections
     • UK Sure Start programme