[Sleeping problems and attachment quality in toddlers].

The study presented addresses the association between 18-months-olds' attachment quality and subsequent sleeping problems at 30 months. The sample consisted in 62 healthy, firstborn children and their primary caregivers. Attachment quality was assessed using Ainsworths' Strange Situation Procedure. Sleeping disorders were diagnosed conducting a standardized psychiatric interview with the mothers. Securely attached toddlers showed sleeping problems more often than insecurely-avoidant attached ones. Attachment disorganization was not related to sleeping problems. Analyzing the impact of self-stimulation behavior (i.e. thumb or pacifier sucking) it could be demonstrated that all 30-months-olds who showed self-stimulating behavior were insecurely-avoidant attached to their primary caregiver. Thus, insecure-avoidant toddlers might incline to suppress attachment behavior and negative emotions when being separated from parent in the evening and night hours.