The Relationship of Maternal Adult Attachment Style and Risk of Physical Child Abuse

Abstract

The present study assessed maternal adult attachment style and the specific adult attachment attitudes and behaviors of mothers as factors in physical child abuse risk. Interviews were conducted with 48 single mothers who were receiving government assistance and had a child of preschool age. Participants' child abuse risk potential was determined by their responses or performance on several instruments previously found to discriminate between abusive and adequate mothers. Mothers with an insecure adult attachment style (ambivalent or avoidant) were at significantly higher risk for child abuse than mothers with a secure attachment style. The role of several attachment-related dynamics (i.e., trust difficulties, jealousy or clinging behaviors, ambivalence in relationships, frustration with partners, and fear of abandonment) in physical child maltreatment dynamics are discussed.