The Journal of Early Adolescence, Ahead of Print.
BackgroundLatent growth curve modeling was used to investigate the longitudinal link between attachment, effortful control (EC), and maladaptive development during middle childhood.MethodsIn a community sample, children (Time 1: n = 157; Mage = 10.91) and their mothers were examined three times over a two-year period. Attachment was operationalized at a more strategic (self-reported trust in maternal support) and more automatic level (secure base script knowledge). Mothers reported about children’s EC and maladjustment.ResultsSecure attachment was associated with higher EC, but EC development was only linked with baseline self-reported trust. Also, EC indirectly linked baseline self-reported trust with change in externalizing and internalizing problems over time. In addition, self-reported trust was indirectly linked with change in externalizing problems over time through EC development.ConclusionEC, and, less robustly, EC development were linked with attachment and change in emotional and behavioral problems.