Disorganization of attachment in relation to maternal alcohol consumption.

Abstract

The relation between maternal alcohol consumption and Infant behavior at one year was investigated in this study. Alcohol consumption was estimated by self-report questionnaires filled out by mothers over 30 vears of age, regarding the amount of alcohol they consumed prior to, during, and following pregnancy. Alcohol level was computed using the Jessor, Graves, Hanson and Jessor AA score (absolute alcohol/day). The behavior of infants was observed at one year of age using the Ainsworth Strange-Situation Procedure. Infants were classified as: Lft2ILL1 (group B); insecureavoitant (group A); or insecure-ambiv_alemt/resistent (group C). Additionally, a new classification of.insecurejisorganized/dtsoriemteA (group D), developed by Main and Solomon, was used. This classification is thought to include infants *who may have more serious disturbances. Findings were that the majority of infants of mothers who consumed more -altohol prior to pregnancy and during pregnancy were-insecure in comparison to a minority of insecure infants of mothers who were abstinent or light drinkers during those time periods. Other results were that the classification of infants as insecure-Vsocganized/ IllatialIAA helped to identify a large number of infants who were insecure in the group of heavy drinking mothers. Disorganization of Attachment 3 Disorganization of Attachment in Relation to Maternal Alcohol Consumption Heavy alcohol use during pregnancy has been documented as a casual agent in a of growth deficiency, mental retardation and abnormal morphogenesis called fetal alcohol syndrome (Jones & Smith, 1973; Smith, 1979; Streissguth, Landesman-Dwyer, Martin, & Smith, 1980). Results from the Seattle Longitudinal Prospective Study on Alcohol and Pregnancy suggest that even moderate consumption of alcohol or social drinking during early pregnancy may have an adverse effect on the fetus as reflected in abnormalities in newborn physical status and behavior (Hanson, Streissguth, & Smith, 1978; Landesman-Dwyer, Keller, & Streissguth, 1978; Martin, Martin, Lund, & Streissguth, 1977; Martin, Martin, Streissguth, & Lund, 1979; Streissguth, Martin, Martin, & Barr, 1981). The Seattle group has reported smaller infant size, lower Apgar scores, poorer neonatal habituation and conditioning, increased tremulousness, decreased activity and sucking, and increased minor dysmorphic features (Streissguth, Martin, Martin, & Barr, 1981, for summary). Studies of older infants reveal lower mental development (O'Connor, Brill & Sigman, 1986; Streissguth, Barr, Martin, & Herman, 1980). Disorganization of Attachment 4 While the literature shows that children of alcoholic mothers are at risk for suffering the negative consequences of caretaking casualty (Sameroff & Chandler, 1975), no studies have been designed to examine social maladjustment in infants of these mothers. The importance of studying the effects of maternal drinking behavior on infant emotional development is underscored by the demonstration that an infant's early relationship with the mother has significant and long-term effects on development. (Mahler, Pine & Bergman, 1975). Bowlby (1973,1980,1982) eloquently described how the infant's relationship with the mother lays the foundation for later social/ emotional development. The patterning of the early relationship is the base on which later representation of self and the figure is constructed. The relationship may strongly influence the ways in which the child relates to others and resolves interpersonal issues later in life. Fortunately, an investigative technique for characterizing infant behavior with the mother is provided by the Ainsworth Strange Situation Procedure (Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters & Wall, 1978); Based upon the theory of Bowlby (1973,1980, 1982)4_Ainsworth and colleagues developed a brief, structured laboratory procedure designed to elicit Disorganization of Attachment 5 infant behavior toward a particular caregiver (generally the mother). Individual differences in infant response to the situation allows for the classification of infants into one of three major attachment categories, as secure (group B), illaauLgavoidant (group A), or tnsecure-ambivalent/resistant