Attachment figures in middle childhood

Previous research has focused on who the primary attachment figures are for children in middle childhood, but there has been relatively little research on other important people who may fulfill attachment needs. The goal of the study was to identify who children use as non-parental attachment figures and to examine whether children's use varies with certain child characteristics. Children 7-12 years of age completed an open-ended interview to identify attachment figures. This study suggests that children may, at times, direct secure base behavior towards peers, siblings, grandparents, and teachers. The study also shows that the identity and use of attachment figures may vary with certain child characteristics such as age, gender, and sibling status. Older siblings were more likely than younger siblings to be used as attachment figures, and older children were more likely than younger children to turn to peers to fulfill attachment needs.