Attention focus and self-touch in toddlers: the moderating effect of attachment security

Abstract

Although touch is an important component of attachment theory, most of the existing studies have focused on its extrinsic forms (i.e., being touched by a caregiver, and touching a caregiver) and neglected its intrinsic form (i.e., self-touch). The primary objectives of the present study were to first (1) examine whether the association between self-touch and attention focus emerges by toddlerhood in the presence of a caregiver, then (2) investigate whether the likelihood of self-touch varies by attachment style in a situation requiring attention focus, and finally (3) examine whether the association between self-touch and attention focus varies by attachment style. Data from forty-nine mother-child dyads were employed for analyses. The attachment classification of the children was determined using the Strange Situation. The instance of attention focus and self-touch behavior during a challenging task were coded by second. First, self-touch as related to attention focus was found to emerge by toddlerhood. Second, securely attached children were found to be more likely than insecurely attached children to exhibit self-touch in a situation requiring attention focus. Third, an association between lateral self-touch and attention focus was found for children of all attachment classifications. This association was particularly strong for securely attached children, who also displayed higher levels of attention focus. The present study found that self-touch is associated with attention focus during toddlerhood, and that this association is strongest for the toddlers who were securely attached as infants.