Having an antagonistic sibling could be the underlying cause bringing about the 2 correlated effects (secure attachment and later well-being). The antagonistic (likely older) sibling causes stress, and the mother likely chastises him, thus providing refuge for the younger sibling. This helps foster secure attachment because the child learns to go to the mother for refuge.
Since, mother can't always be there, the younger sibling must learn to cope with the older sibling, and in a "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" sort of way, this better prepares him for the challenges of life, accounting for his later well-being)
--Frisky Dingo
-- Edited by 102intro on Wednesday 8th of April 2009 05:23:09 AM
I agree that sibling interactions could account for secure attachment because the child learns to go to the mother for refuge. However, isn't it more likely that it will account for poor well-being late on because the child cannot fend for him/herself?
