| This study explored relationships between attachment security, hostile attribution and social problem solving using data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. Attachment security was expected to predict lower levels of hostile attribution and higher levels of competent social problem solving, but it was predicted that emotion regulation fostered by a secure attachment would mediate or moderate the relationship between attachment security and social problem solving. Neither assessment of attachment security predicted hostile attributions. However, the data provide evidence for a moderating effect of emotion regulation on the relationship between Q-sort attachment security and social problem solving. Attachment security predicted higher levels of socially competent social problem solving in all children, but effortful control also predicted this outcome in children with low to moderate attachment security. These relationships, other variables of interest, and future directions are discussed. |
