LE3 .A278 2020

2020

Symons, Doug

Acadia University

Bachelor of Science

Honours

Psychology

Psychology

Adult attachment style and caregiving attitudes were examined in two studies using a parenting simulation. In Study 1, 172 students completed measures of attachment and desire to become a parent before and after raising a virtual child. Measures of positive caregiver attitudes of serving as an attachment figure, perceived child security, and positive feelings were completed afterwards. Avoidance negatively predicted attachment figure and security measures, but not feelings. Desire to have children did not change due to the simulation, but was positively related to attitudes and negatively related to avoidance. Study 2 of 420 students showed that avoidance negatively predicted all three caregiver attitudes. Also, attachment was broken down into the four figures of mother, father, partner, and best friend. Anxiety towards mother and avoidance towards father negatively predicted security, and avoidance towards all but father negatively predicted attachment figure. These results showed the relation of avoidance to negative caregiver attitudes even in a parenting simulation when the child is not real.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3421