How attachment styles impact maternal gatekeeping in new parents.
A new study published in Personal Relationships suggests that adult attachment styles play a key role in maternal gatekeeping among new parents. The study found that mothers with heightened attachment anxiety tended to self-report higher maternal gate closing, while fathers with heightened attachment avoidance were more likely to perceive their partners as being less encouraging of their involvement in parenting. The findings provide evidence that adult attachment styles are associated with how much a new mother tries to involve or exclude a father in parenting their child.