Les problèmes de comportement, les représentations d’attachement et le parcours de placement d’enfants relevant de la protection de l’enfance

Abstract

IntroductionMany studies show the high prevalence of behavioral problems in foster children (Bronsard et al., 2016). In the literature, various factors have been associated with behavioral problems, including disorganized attachment (Fearon et al., 2010) and placement disruptions (Barth et al., 2007). The objective of this research is to examine the relationships between these variables and to determine whether the disorganization of attachment representations mediates the relationship between behavior problems and placement courses. MethodsThe study was conducted with children aged 4–10 years placed in child welfare institutions. Children's behavior problems were assessed by social workers using the CBCL Questionnaire (Achenbach et al., 1991) and their attachment representations were explored with the Attachment Story Completion Task (Bretherton et al., 1990). ResultsThe results confirm the mediating role of the disorganization of attachment representations in the relationship between externalizing problems and the number of foster places. ConclusionThese results bring a better understanding of relationships between child behavioral problems, attachment and placement pathways in child welfare, and consider implications for practice and research.