Attachment security in very low birth weight infants

Infants of very low birth weight (VLBW) (n = 34) and a comparison group of 40 full-term infants were observed in Ainsworth's Strange Situation at 14 and 19 months and observed in the home at 14 months of age, using Waters's Attachment Q-set. Results indicated that at 14 months VLBW infants were more likely than the full-term infants to be insecurely attached when rated using the Q-set but not when using the Strange Situation. However, at 19 months VLBW infants were also more likely than full-term infants to be insecurely attached in the Strange Situation assessment. There were no associations between the Q-set and Strange Situation measures of attachment security. These results are discussed in terms of the social-emotional development of VLBW infants.