Sicurezza e insicurezza dell'attaccamento nella prima infanzia in una prospettiva interculturale

Secure and insecure attachment in early infancy in an intercultural perspective. 43 13-months infants were observed in the Strange Situation Procedure (SSP; Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters e Wall, 1978) to study the distribution of infant-mother attachment in the Italian culture. The aim was to compare attachment distribution of Italian infants with respect to US ones. A metaanalytic-like approach was used. Results show a significant lower proportion of Secure Italian infants and more insecure Avoidant ones (A = 39.5%; B = 44.2%; C = 16.3%), than in US samples. Italian infants differ from North American ones also with respect to several specific and relevant behaviours exhibited by children during the SSP, in relation to reunions and separation from the mother: Italian infants were characterised by lesser proximity or contact seeking, stress display and by more independence and autonomy with respect to the mother.