Measuring Attachment Security: Concurrent and Predictive Validity of the Parental Attachment Q-set

In this study, concurrent and predictive validity of Waters and Deane's (1985) Attachment Q-set was tested. We hypothesized that outcomes of the Attachment Q-set would converge with Strange Situation behavior and classification and that maternal responsiveness would correlate with security (as measured through the Attachment Q-set) but temperamental characteristics would not have a direct relation to security. Thirty-nine children (M = 18 months) and their mothers participated in the Strange Situation procedure and in a free play session in which maternal responsiveness was measured. Mothers completed the Attachment Q-set twice and also filled out Bates' Infant Characteristics Questionnaire (Kohnstamm, 1984). Results indicated a lack of concurrent validity: Strange Situation and Attachment Q-set outcomes did not converge. Although responsiveness was related to attachment as measured through the Strange Situation, it showed no overlap with security as measured through the Attachment Q-set. Security also appeared to be related in an unexpected way to difficultness and adaptability as measured through the ICQ. Therefore, we were unable to establish the predictive validity of the Attachment Q-set.