Study Shows Attachment Fosters Independence

Can early attachment lead to later independence? Yes, according to new research from the University of Minnesota. The results of the study were recently highlighted by The Brookings Institute, raising the profile of a long-held belief among early childhood specialists and practitioners: “secure attachment,” the critical early bond formed between infant and caregiver, has lifelong impact. The longitudinal study followed children from infancy through the teen years, and found that those with secure attachments to caregivers in the first 18 months ended up more confident and comfortable in kindergarten and beyond. In addition, those with secure attachments were less likely to suffer from depression as teenagers. Many of the study’s findings can be found in the book The Development of the Person (The Guilford Press, 2009).