Infant Attachment Insecurity and Baseline Physiological Activity and Physiological Reactivity to Interpersonal Stress: A Meta-Analytic Review

This meta-analytic review (k=5-10; N=258-895) examined links between attachment insecurity and physiological activity at baseline and in response to interpersonal stress elicited by separation-reunion procedures in the early life course (1-5years). Insecurity was trivially, nonsignificantly associated with baseline physiological activity (heart rate [HR]: g=-.06; respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA]: g=-.06; cortisol: g=.01) and nonsignificantly associated with physiological reactivity to separation from parents (HR: g=-.001; RSA: g=.24). However, insecurity was moderately associated with heightened RSA (g=.26) and cortisol (g=.27) reactivity upon reunion with parents. Findings provide insight into the biobehavioral organization of attachment, suggesting that early insecurity is associated with heightened physiological reactivity to interpersonal stress.