Stirling, Katie (2011) The Difference between Child-Mother and Child-Father Attachment: A Meta-Analysis. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Numerous studies have examined child-mother attachment with relatively fewer studies examining child-father attachment. Although many studies have independently considered these child-parent relationships in terms of related outcomes (e.g., peer relationships) and underlying constructs (e.g., maternal and paternal sensitivity) there are relatively fewer studies that have examined both child-mother and child-father attachment. The present study applied meta-analytic methodology, using a random effects model, to quantify the difference between child-mother and child-father attachment, and whether such difference is significantly moderated by (a) measure of attachment, (b) rater, (c) age of child, (d) gender of child, (e) country, and (f) era of the study. A total of 58 studies were included, representing 11, 418 children (0-18 yrs), and yielding 102 effect sizes. An overall mean effect size (d = 0.16) was calculated, indicating a small but significant difference, with child-mother attachment being more positive overall than child-father attachment. The difference between child-mother and child-father attachment was found to be moderated significantly by the measure of attachment, rater of the measure, and child age. The current findings provide empirical support for the difference between child-mother and child-father attachment. A number of areas for future research are recommended in order to enhance understanding of the factors that contribute to the child-mother and child-father attachment and to address current gaps in research. Given the significant implications at a theoretical, policy, and practical level, it is essential that attachment measures accurately reflect both childmother and child-father attachment and as such it is recommended that further research examine the underlying constructs of attachment measures and in particular that the nonsignificant findings of the SSP be further explored.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Psychology (Up to 30 Jun 2013) |
| Supervisors: | Peter Terry |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Nov 2025 01:32 |
| Last Modified: | 10 Nov 2025 01:32 |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52789 |
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