The Moderating Role of Oxytocin in the Association Between Parental Support and Change in Secure Attachment Development

According to the Learning Theory of Attachment, neuroendocrinological processes affect the association between parental support and change in attachment. The current study aimed to test this assumption for oxytocin (OT) given its role in social behavior. We conducted a three-wave longitudinal study in which 91 children (56% girls, M age = 9.55, SD age = 0.63) participated. Change in attachment was assessed from Wave 1 to Wave 3 and was indexed by measuring trust in maternal support and Secure Base Script (SBS) knowledge. Measures of salivary child OT and parental support (child and mother report) were obtained during respectively the first and last wave. Results indicated that child-reported parental support was positively related to change in trust and more so for children with high OT levels. No (moderation) effects were found for SBS knowledge. Overall, these findings illustrate the importance of considering biological factors along with experienced parenting to explain differences in attachment.