Longitudinal and Concurrent Relationships Between Caregiver-Child Behaviours in the Vaccination Context and Preschool Attachment

Abstract

The present paper consists of two separate studies in which the overarching aim was to examine the relationships between caregiver-child behaviours in the vaccination context (infant and preschool) and preschool attachment outcomes. It provides for the first time an examination of acute pain behaviours during early childhood and how it relates to a critical aspect of child development (i.e., attachment status) at the end of early childhood. Study 1 examined the longitudinal relationship between caregiver-infant behaviours during infants’ first routine vaccination (2-months) and preschool attachment (n = 84). Study 2 examined the concurrent relationships between caregiver-preschooler behaviours during the last routine vaccination of preschool (4-5 years) and preschool attachment (n = 117). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were utilized. Although there were several non-significant findings, the results revealed that higher caregiver sensitivity and higher proximal soothing 1-minute pre-needle during infants’ 2-month vaccinations predicted higher levels of preschooler avoidance and lower levels of preschooler ambivalence, respectively. Additionally, higher infant-pain related distress at 2 minutes post-needle was related to higher preschooler security and lower preschooler disorganization and controlling-punitive attachments. In terms of concurrent relationships, only caregiver sensitivity was significantly related to preschool attachment outcomes. Specifically higher caregiver sensitivity at preschoolers’ 4-5 year vaccinations was related to higher preschooler attachment security. The present study findings provide evidence that child-caregiver behavioural patterns during the infant and preschool routine vaccination relate to preschoolers’ patterns of attachment. Moreover, it underscores the potential importance of health professionals teaching and supporting attuned caregiving to the child in pain.