Multiple Attachments of OSCs in Residential Care

Abstract

This study describes evidence for multiple attachments by orphaned and separated children (OSC) to caregivers and explores predictive relationships between attachment and family social relationships. A sample of forty-three longitudinal children residing in residential care between 15 and 144 months at the time of assessment and forty-two newer-to-care children (entering one to thirteen months before testing) was interviewed in summer 2019. Caregiver attachment was measured using the IPPA Guardian scale, and family social relations were measured using the PROMIS Pediatric Family Relationships scale. Longitudinal children displayed similar attachment scores across a one-year time span regardless of whether they nominated the same or different favourite caretaker. Results are discussed in the context of evidence for multiple attachments and the way attachment can predict social relations for new but not longitudinal children. This paper supports that OSCs form multiple attachments to caregivers over time, with attachment starting and remaining relatively strong in the long-term.