A: Cultural variations in attachment

Question 1

What are the two studies into cultural variations in attachment?

Answer 1

1. van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg: meta-analysis.
2. Simonelli et al.: an Italian key study

Question 2

Procedure of van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg: meta-analysis.

Answer 2

Looked at proportions of secure, insecure-avoidant and insecure-resistant attachments across a range of countries. They also look at differences within the same countries to get an idea of variations within a culture. Found 32 studies of attachment where the Strange Situation had been used. These were conducted in 8 countries. 15 in the USA. Overall the studies yielded results for 1,990 children. Data were meta-analysed, results being combined and weighted for sample size.

Question 3

How many children were involved in van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg’s meta-analysis overall?

Answer 3

1,990 children.

Question 4

How many studies of attachment did van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg use in their meta-analysis?

Answer 4

32 studies.

Question 5

How many of van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg’s studies were in the USA?

Answer 5

15.

Question 6

Findings and conclusions of van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenburg: meta-analysis

Answer 6

Secure attachment most common in all countries but ranged from 50% in China to 75% in Britain. In individualist cultures rates of insecure-resistant attachment were similar to Ainsworth’s original sample but this was not true for the collectivist samples from China, Japan and Israel where rates were above 25%- suggests that there were cultural differences in the distribution of insecure attachment. Variations between results of studies within the same country were 150% greater than those between countries e.g. one USA study found 46% securely attached compared to another that found 90%.

Question 7

What are some examples of collectivist cultures?

Answer 7

China, Japan, Israel.

Question 8

What were the rates of secure attachment?

Answer 8

50% in China, 75% in Britain.

Question 9

What were rates of insecure attachment from the collectivist cultures?

Answer 9

Above 25%.

Question 10

How much greater were variations between results of studies within the same country than those between countries?

Answer 10

150% greater.

Question 11

Give an example of differences in studies within a country.

Answer 11

One USA study found 46% securely attached children, while another found 90% securely attached children.

Question 12

Procedure of Simonelli et al.: an Italian key study.

Answer 12

Assessed 76 16 month olds using the Strange situation to see whether the proportion of attachment types still matched previous studies in Italy. Mothers reasonably varied in their education levels (57% university degree, 40% high school etc.) and their professions (48% employees, 39% did not work or worked part time etc.).

Question 13

In Simonelli et al.’s study, what were the proportions of parents’ different education levels?

Answer 13

57% university degree, 40% finished high school etc.

Question 14

In Simonelli et al.’s study, what were the proportions of parents’ different forms of employment?

Answer 14

48% were employees, 39% did not work or worked part-time etc.

Question 15

How old were the children assessed in Simonelli et al.’s study?

Answer 15

16 months old.

Question 16

How many children were studied in Simonelli et al.’s study?

Answer 16

76.

Question 17

Findings and conclusions of Simonelli et al.: an Italian key study.

Answer 17

50% were secure, 36% insecure-avoidant- lower rate of secure attachment than found in previous studies. Researchers suggested this was due to the increasing numbers of mothers working long hours and using professional childcare. Cultural changes can make dramatic differences in the patterns of attachment.