Transgenerational attachment in Manisa, Turkey.

Objective: This study was conducted with the purpose of proving transgenerational attachment by determining the relationship between the adult attachment patterns of mothers and grandmothers as well as the relationship between the adult attachment patterns of mothers and maternal attachment.

Methods: The population of the study consisted of mothers and grandmothers registered with the Manisa Village Clinics. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted between January and July 2007. The universe of research consisted of 1400 infants between 1 and 4 months old and their mothers and grandmothers who lived in the urban center of Manisa. Consequently, research was conducted with 140 mothers and their own mothers by determining the number of individuals needed to serve as sample from 11 village clinics by the Stratified Random Sampling Method. As tools for data collection, a Maternal Attachment Inventory, an Inventory of Experiences in Close Relationships and forms collecting information relating to mothers and grandmothers were prepared and used by the researchers.

Results: A positive, strong and significant correlation was determined between the anxiety and avoidance attachment patterns of the mothers and those of the grandmothers (Anxiety: r = 0.556, p < 0.001; Avoidance: r = 0.683, p < 0.001). A negative correlation of medium significance was determined between the anxiety and avoidance attachment patterns of mothers and their maternal attachment (Anxiety: r = -0.321, p < 0.05; Avoidance: r = -0.281, p < 0.05).

Conclusion: It is thought that attachment patterns are transmitted across generations. Considering the fact that attachment is a multifactorial process, it is suggested that nurses and other health personnel should support families in improving the quality of parent-baby interaction. Additional research is needed to focus on improving the analysis and development of new strategies which will enrich the secure attachment level of the mothers of today, who will become the grandmothers of the future.