Attachment Orientations and the Development of Israeli Elementary School-Age Children: The Role of Dependent Relationship

Associations between attachment orientations and development throughout the school year were explored in 167 Israeli elementary school-age children (mean age 9.58, range 8–12). Using a person-centered approach, the findings indicate differences in children’s development as a function of their attachment orientation. Consistent with hypotheses, children characterized by a balanced relationship with their mothers exhibited the highest level of adjustment mainly in the emotional and the social realms in the beginning and at the end of the year. However, contrary to predictions, children characterized by a dependent relationship with their mothers made more progress in these areas during the year than children who were characterized by either a balanced or a distant relationship. These findings are discussed from a cultural perspective.