Effects of mother's attachment type on preschool children's social skills: A quantitative study

The purpose of this study was to compare preschool children's social skills to their mother's attachment style to determine the influence attachment type has on social functioning of preschool children. The study also sought to create a link in the research between attachment style and social skills in preschool children. The study was based on quantitative data from 2 self-administered parent questionnaires. The Parental Acceptance and Rejection Questionnaire (PARQ) categorized attachment styles of parents. Their corresponding pre-school child's social skills were assessed using a standardized instrument, the Social Skills Rating System (SSRS). Nineteen participants from 2 preschool sites completed the questionnaires.;The study found that securely attached children tend to have higher than average social skills. This indicates that they will have more success in areas of school readiness, particularly with transitioning into the preschool environment. Implications for a new approach to assessment and diagnosis are discussed. Intervention techniques based on attachment theory are also reviewed. Continued research on attachment theory would be beneficial to professionals.