How caregiver-child closeness affects attachment security
Official title: Caregiver–Child Proximity and Attachment Security
Funded at Vanderbilt University · NIH-10809993 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how being physically close to your 12-month-old child helps build a strong bond between you, and it involves 100 families using a special device to track how often you’re near each other in daily life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $198,125 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD111744-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10809993 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation are families with a 12-month-old child, particularly those from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
✕Less likely to help
Families with children older than 12 months or those not living with a primary caregiver may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the importance of physical closeness between caregivers and children in developing secure attachments. Using a wearable device called TotTag, the study will measure real-time proximity between caregivers and their 12-month-old children in their everyday environments. By analyzing interactions and conducting assessments of attachment security, the research aims to understand how these dynamics influence children's social relationships and overall well-being. The study will involve 100 families from diverse backgrounds to ensure a comprehensive understanding of these interactions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of attachment security, leading to improved caregiver practices and better developmental outcomes for children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown the significance of caregiver-child interactions, but this approach using wearable technology is relatively novel and untested.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Humphreys, Kathryn Leigh — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Humphreys, Kathryn Leigh
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.