Rigidity, sensitivity and quality of attachment: the role of maternal rigidity in the early socio-emotional development of premature infants.

The associations between a mother's rigidity, her sensitivity in early (3 month) interaction and the quality of her premature infant's attachment at 13 months were investigated. Rigidity as a personality characteristic was not found to be significantly associated with sensitivity or quality of attachment. Rigid attitudes to child rearing were related to sensitivity and to the responsivity of the infant. Rigid attitudes were not related to security of attachment. Infants who were rated less responsive at 3 months, however, tended to be less securely attached, and high Attitude Rigidity in the mother increased their chances of an insecure attachment.