Longitudinal analysis of mothers' and fathers' responses on the maternal separation anxiety scale

Mothers' and fathers' responses on the Maternal Separation Anxiety Scale (MSAS) were compared and parental characteristics were investigated for their ability to predict the parents' responses on this scale. The relation between the parents' responses on the MSAS and the attachment Q-sort also was assessed. Seventy mothers and lathers completed the MSAS twice, once when their infants were age 6 months and again when their infants were age 18 months. Parents completed the attachment Q-sort at 18 months. Mothers reported greater separation anxiety, a more positive perception of separation effects, and greater employment-related separation concern than did fathers. The pattern of the relation between parental characteristics and responses on the MSAS differed for mothers and fathers. No relation was found between the parents' responses on the MSAS and the attachment Q-sort.