This questionnaire is designed to screen maternal perceptions and behaviors associated with secure attachment in early caregiving relationships. Maternal Secure Attachment Level to a One-Year-Old Child is intended for use with mothers of infants around age 1 and focuses on common caregiving situations and emotional responses. It was developed by Mary D. Ainsworth and Everett Waters.
The measure includes 20 items and typically takes about 4 minutes to complete. Scores are organized into domains reflecting caregiver sensitivity, acceptance, appropriate responsiveness versus intrusiveness, and support for the child’s exploration versus ignoring needs, with an overall index summarizing perceived attachment security. Maternal Secure Attachment Level to a One-Year-Old Child may be used in clinical and early intervention settings to inform case formulation and guide discussion of strengths and areas for support; results should be interpreted in context and are not diagnostic on their own.