MANUELA VERÍSSIMO (**)

LÍGIA MONTEIRO (**)

BRIAN E. VAUGHN (***)

ANTÓNIO J. SANTOS (**)

HARRIET WATERS (****)

RESUMO

A correspondência entre as representações de vinculação maternas e os comportamentos de base segura da criança são explorados numa amostra de díades mãe/ /criança portuguesas. Os scripts de base segura maternos foram avaliados utilizando um instrumento, recentemente criado, as Narrativas de Representação da Vinculação em Adultos, que consiste num conjunto de palavras que visa que as mães contem histórias com conteúdos relevantes para a vinculação. O Attachment Q-Set (realizado por observadores) foi utilizado para avaliar os comportamentos de base segura das crianças. Os valores para as narrativas de base segura maternas são internamente consistentes (os alphas de Cronbach encontram-se todos acima de .80). O compósito das narrativas de base segura maternas encontra-se significativa e positivamente correlacionado com o valor de segurança das crianças no AQS. Estas análises indicam que mães com narrativas nas quais o script de base segura esta presente têm crianças que as tratam como bases seguras, em observações realizadas em casa. Os resultados deste estudo sugerem que o elemento central dos modelos internos de vinculação é a existência e acessibilidade a um script de base segura. Resultados adicionais, indicam que as traduções das narrativas, nomeadamente, para inglês podem receber valores válidos e fiáveis, mesmo quando não cotadas por nativos da língua.

ABSTRACT

Correspondence between maternal attachment representations and child secure base behavior was explored in a sample of mother-child dyads from Portugal. Maternal secure base scripts were assessed using a recently designed word-list prompt procedure for eliciting and scoring attachment-relevant stories and the Attachment Q-set (AQS, completed by home observers) was used to assess child secure base behavior. Scores for the maternal secure base narratives (from stories elicited using the word-prompt procedure) were internally consistent (Cronbach’s alphas all above .80). The composite maternal secure base narrative score was correlated significantly and positively with attachment security scored from the AQS. These analyses suggest that mothers whose narratives indicate the use of a “secure” script have children who treat them as a “secure base” when observed at home. Findings from this study suggest that a core feature of adult working models of attachment is possession of and access to a secure base script. Additional results from the study indicate that cross-language translations of the maternal narratives can receive valid, reliable scores even when evaluated by non-native speakers.

Key words: Attachment, internal working model, secure base.

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(*) Agradecimentos: Os autores gostariam de agradecer a todas as mães e crianças que aceitaram participar neste estudo. Este estudo foi financiado, parcialmente, pela FCT (POCTI, Plurianual, UIPCDE) e pelo CII (00968/CII/2005/11.1.4). Os autores gostariam ainda de agradecer a colaboração de André Silva, Marilia Fernandes, Filipa Silva, Iolanda Queiroz, Ana Zilda Silva, Carla Oliveira e Sofia Meneres na recolha dos dados.

(**) UIPCDE, Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada, Lisboa.

(***) Human Development and Family Studies, Auburn University.

(****) State University of New York at Stony Brook.