Aims of the study

The primary goal was to determine if attachment styles are consistent across cultures, suggesting a universal basis, or if they differ, indicating cultural influences.

Method and procedure

The researchers conducted a meta-analysis, combining results from 32 previous studies that had used Ainsworth's Strange Situation to assess attachment. These studies were carried out in eight different countries, involving almost 2,000 children.

Participants

The meta-analysis included data from almost 2,000 children across a range of countries. The sample covered both individualist cultures (such as the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, Netherlands, and Germany) and collectivist cultures (such as China, Japan, and Israel).

Results

The findings revealed both consistencies and variations in attachment styles across cultures.

Key attachment patterns by culture type

• Secure attachment - This was the most common type in every country, with average findings consistent with Ainsworth's original research, and six out of eight countries showing proportional consistency. However, China had the lowest rate at 50%, with the remaining attachments split evenly between insecure types.
• Insecure attachments in collectivist cultures - Countries like Japan and Israel showed a higher incidence of resistant attachments compared to anxious-avoidant.
• Insecure attachments in individualist cultures - Nations such as Germany had high levels of anxious-avoidant attachments.

Conclusions

The consistent prevalence of secure attachments across all cultures suggests that some aspects of attachment may be universal and innate. However, the variations in insecure attachment types indicate that cultural factors limit this universality.

Cultural explanations for variations

• Israeli children - Many are raised in kibbutzim, which are communal living arrangements where children experience frequent separations from their mothers but have strong group ties. This leads to less anxiety about maternal absence but high distress with strangers, explaining elevated resistant attachments.
• German children - Parenting in Germany often promotes independence, with expectations for non-clingy behaviour. As noted in related research by Grossmann et al. (1985), German parents value obedient, self-reliant infants, which aligns with higher anxious-avoidant attachments.