Insecure Attachment Research Articles

Reactive Attachment Disorder and Its Relationship to Psychopathology: A Systematic Review.

This study aimed to determine, through a systematic review, the relationship between Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) and the presence of psychopathology in children and adolescents, and to determine the existence of differences in terms of internalising and externalising psychological problems between the RAD group and groups with other disorders or with typical development. Following the PRISMA methodology, a search was carried out in the Web of Science, PubMed and Scopus databases. The search yielded 770 results, of which only 25 met the inclusion criteria. The results indicate a relationship between the presence of RAD and/or disinhibited social engagement disorder (DSED), with the presence of internalising and externalising problems. These difficulties are more present in children with RAD compared to children without personal difficulties, or children with DSED, children with autism, children with intellectual disabilities or children with hyperactivity. It can be concluded that the presence of RAD has negative consequences on the mental health of children and adolescents, with these being greater in the inhibited group than in the disinhibited group, and with respect to children with autism or hyperactivity.

The Importance of Attachment for Human Beings and Dogs - Implications for Dog-Assisted Psychotherapy

Attachment theory is known as an important therapeutic foundation. Establishing a secure attachment to a caregiver is equally relevant for the mental health of both humans and dogs. A bond can be formed between humans and dogs that is comparable to the attachment between mother and child. Patients with adverse attachment experiences often struggle to maintain stable relationships due to internal working models. Building a therapeutic alliance can also be challenging. On the other hand, establishing a relationship with a dog seems to be successful for patients with adverse attachment experiences. Inclusion of a therapy dog provides them with the opportunity for experiences of trustful relationships.These experiences can then be transferred to the therapist. Later on, internal working models of the patients can indeed come into play in the relationship with the dog. The resulting patterns of relationship can become visible in the interaction with the dog. Within the therapeutic triade of patient, therapy dog and therapist, these patterns can be reflected and integrated into the therapy process. However, achieving this requires a targeted and professionally grounded use of the dog. If dogs are employed with a therapeutic purpose but without professional guidance, there is a risk of reestablishing insecure attachment patterns, which could potentially lead to more disadvantages than benefits for both humans and dogs.

Revue de littérature sur la qualité d’attachement des enfants avec un trouble du spectre de l’autisme avec ou sans une déficience intellectuelle associée

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study is to conduct a systematic review of studies conducted on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attachment. We explore the possibility for children with ASD to establish a secure attachment relationship with their caregiver compared to neurotypical children. Given the current knowledge on ASD and attachment, we expect that ASD is a vulnerability factor in the construction of secure attachment. We also hypothesize that the presence of an associated intellectual disability potentiates the risks for children with ASD to develop insecure attachment compared to children with ASD without associated intellectual disability. MethodWe identified on the following databases, PsycInfo, Pubmed, Francis, and Pascal, studies on attachment types in individuals with ASD. Twenty-three articles were selected for our analysis. ResultsTheir analysis shows that, overall, children with ASD seem to be more likely to develop an insecure type of attachment. There is an over-representation of the disorganized/disoriented type reinforced by the presence of an intellectual disability. However, the risk of developing an insecure attachment is not verified in the whole corpus and these observations are not always scientifically valid (sometimes, there are no inferential statistics because too few subjects; sometimes the results are not statistically significant). Furthermore, we were able to highlight a strong heterogeneity in the indices used in the studies (e.g., characteristics of the population included or measures of attachment), which may bias the interpretation of these studies or at least make them impossible to generalize. ConclusionFurther research is needed to define the study population more rigorously in order to minimize bias in the research (language level, intellectual efficiency, theory of mind, presence or absence of comorbidities, etc.). Future work should allow us to better understand the links between ASD and attachment fragility, which seem to us to be more complex and multifactorial than what the first studies were able to put forward.

The interplay of attachment styles and marital infidelity: A systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectivesMarital infidelity is a highly distressing experience for those involved. Understanding the psychological factors related to infidelity can help develop targeted interventions. The primary aim of this study was to assess the association between attachment styles and marital infidelity. MethodsSeventeen studies were included, sourced from electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycInfo, with no time limitations, up to April 2023. The search employed terms like “attachment AND marital infidelity.” Study quality was evaluated using the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool from RevMan version 5.3. ResultsThe meta-analysis involved a total of 13,666 participants, ranging from 208 to 4047 individuals. Findings showed that higher levels of anxiety and avoidance in attachment were significantly associated with increased marital infidelity (r = 0.18, 95 % CI = 0.14–0.22, p < 0.0001). Conversely, weaker attachment insecurity was linked to reduced rates of marital infidelity. Additionally, both dismissive and fearful attachment styles correlated with marital infidelity, with respective weighted effect sizes of r = 0.07, p < 0.001 (95 % CI = 0.04–0.10) and r = 0.19, p < 0.001 (95 % CI = 0.10–0.29). No association was found between preoccupied attachment and infidelity. ConclusionIndividuals with insecure attachment styles, specifically those with high levels of anxiety or avoidance, are more likely to engage in marital infidelity. Attachment styles should be a focus in couples therapy, especially for treatment related to infidelity. Assessing and addressing these underlying attachment issues can better guide therapists in their work with couples facing infidelity.

Assessing Burdening Guilt and Its Correlates.

Burdening guilt refers to the belief that one's emotions, needs, and ways of being are a burden to others, and is one type of interpersonal guilt proposed by the control-mastery theory (CMT). The aim of this article is to validate two new measures of burdening guilt. In the two studies conducted, we examined the psychometric properties of these scales and the relationship between burdening guilt and self-perceived burden (burdensomeness), self-esteem, shame, anxiety, depression, mental health, attachment insecurity, adverse childhood experiences, social desirability, empathy, and suicidal ideation. In Study 1, we presented a newly developed Burdening Guilt Rating Scale (BGRS) and its correlation with measures of the abovementioned dimensions. In Study 2 we verified, through confirmatory factor analysis and correlation techniques, the possibility of expanding the Interpersonal Guilt Rating Scale-15 with a shorter, 5-item burdening guilt scale derived from the BGRS, and showed that this shorter scale correlates similarly to the longer one. Findings allowed us to validate these new scales providing empirical measures of burdening guilt-a theoretical concept with important clinical implications.

Support-Seeking and Active Coping Mitigate the Association Between Posttrauma Symptom Severity and Attachment Insecurity in a Community Sample of Trauma Survivors.

There is an established association between posttrauma symptom severity (PTSS) and attachment insecurity (anxiety and avoidance). However, few studies have examined this association among community samples of trauma-exposed individuals and identified factors that might moderate these associations. We sought to (a) replicate existing associations between PTSS and attachment insecurity in a community sample of trauma survivors and (b) determine the potential moderating role of support-seeking and coping behaviors. Our sample included 824 trauma-exposed individuals (MPCL-5 = 31.6, SD = 20.0; Mage = 37.4, SD = 13.2; 69.3% female; 79.1% White; 77.2% heterosexual). Participants completed an online survey via Amazon Mechanical Turk. Linear regression and moderation analyses tested the association between PTSS and attachment insecurity and whether support-seeking and coping behaviors moderated these associations. PTSS was positively associated with global attachment anxiety (β = .48, 95% confidence interval [.42, .54]) and global attachment avoidance (β = .06, [.15, .29]). The association between PTSS and attachment avoidance was weaker for people who reported greater instrumental and emotional support-seeking or greater active coping. This study provides evidence for the association between PTSS and attachment insecurity. Findings underscore the need to understand causal mechanisms underlying this association and critically evaluate how existing and future interventions can buffer attachment insecurity in trauma-exposed individuals.

Internet gaming disorder and its varied impacts on adolescent age group

This comprehensive review article examines the multifaceted impacts of Internet gaming disorder (IGD) or gaming addiction on individuals, with a particular focus on adolescents and young adults. It begins by defining IGD based on criteria from the American Psychiatric Association and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). The review highlights the global prevalence of IGD among adolescents, emphasizing the need for further research and intervention strategies to address this growing concern. It delves into the psychological impacts, including depression, anxiety, cognitive impairments, social isolation, and poor impulse control. The behavioral impacts encompass irritability, academic problems, social withdrawal, financial issues, poor time management, and neglect of responsibilities. Additionally, the review discusses the familial and parental impacts, such as strained family relationships, insecure attachments, family environment disruption, conflicts, and weakened family bonds. The physical health impacts are explored, including sedentary behaviors, sleep disturbances, musculoskeletal problems, dietary issues, and eye strain. Overall, this review underscores the complex and far-reaching consequences of IGD, highlighting the urgency of addressing this issue to promote the well-being of affected individuals.

Parent-Child Attachment and Romantic Relationship: Is There a Relationship Between Parent-Child Attachment and Young Adults’ Romantic Relationships?

Many researchers have found that the key to future adaptations or maladaptations of children is the attachment they form with their parents (Davies &amp; Sturge-Apple, 2007; Marvin &amp; Britner, 2008). Early research on attachment has highlighted the impact of parent-child attachment continuing across life (Bowlby, 1982). Recent research has shown that insecure attachment during childhood impacts young adults’ attachment with their parents and in turn, impacts different aspects of their lives. However, no or limited studies have explored the direct relationship between attachment styles and young adults’ romantic relationships among Maldivian young adults. This study aimed to fill this gap by assessing the relationship between young adult’s parent child attachment, and the quality of romantic relationships among young adults in Higher Education Institutions in the Maldives. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 463 students aged 18 to 28 in higher education institutions in the Maldives. The data were collected using the Perceived Relationship Quality Scale by Fletcher et al. (2000) and the Attachment to Parent/Caregiver Inventory by Hu (2009). The data were analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and PLS SEM software. The results showed high levels of avoidant attachment with both mother and father among the participants, which was negatively associated with their current romantic relationship quality. In addition, it also showed an association between mother child anxious attachment, father-child anxious attachment, and the romantic relationship quality of young adults. Hence, a direct connection between insecure attachment styles (avoidant attachment and anxious attachment) and low levels of relationship quality was established.

Adverse experiences in early intimate relationships and next‐generation infant–mother attachment: findings from the ATP Generation 3 Study

AbstractChronic insecurities that emerge from adverse experiences in early intimate partner relationships in adolescence and emerging adulthood can have profound impacts on mental health and well‐being. Less clear is the extent to which these experiences for parents impact subsequent relationships within and across generations. We examine the extent to which secure, dismissing, pre‐occupied, and fearful intimate partner relationships in adolescence and emerging adulthood, well before becoming a parent, are associated with next‐generation patterns of attachment between mothers and infant offspring. Data were drawn from a nested study of infant–mother attachment (n = 220) within the Australian Temperament Project Generation 3 Study (N = 1167, est. 1983). Intimate partner relationships in adolescence and young adulthood were assessed by self‐report at 23–24 years of age. Over a decade later, infant–mother attachment security was assessed at 12 months post‐partum. Young adult intimate partner relationships defined by high levels of fearful, pre‐occupied, and dismissing attachment styles were reported in 11%, 17%, and 38% of young mothers, respectively. Increases in fear of intimacy in relationships were associated with an increase in the odds, by around 50%, of infant–mother insecure attachments (vs secure; OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.07, 2.28) and disorganised attachments (vs organised; OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.00, 2.22). A mother's self‐reported history of fear of intimacy within young adult relationships predicts later insecure and disorganised mother–infant attachments. Guidance and greater support for young people navigating their earliest intimate relationships may not only prevent adverse relational experiences at the time but also on becoming a parent. Findings have relevance for family and infant mental health therapies. Translating these findings into supported conversations may help prevent infant–mother attachment difficulties, or later repair them, through validation of the lingering effects of early fear of intimacy and empowerment of parents to prevent next‐generation infant experiences of distrust.

Major Depressive Disorder in Adolescents: a General Overview

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common mood disorder characterized by persistent depressive moods, irritability, and helplessness feelings, which could negatively influence one’s quality of life. Current research often concludes MDD in adolescents into MDD in general, whereas in reality, abundant differences exist between MDD in adolescents and MDD in adults. This article is an overview of major depressive disorder in adolescents incorporating its symptoms, future impacts, risk factors (academic pressure, attachment style, and peer relationships), and treatments. Although MDD in adolescents shares many similar symptoms as adults, it leads to long-lasting robust negative outcomes in adulthood, both physically and mentally. High academic pressure and insecure attachment style are both associated with the development of depressive symptoms. However, peer relationships have a much-complicated influence on depression. Positive interactions between peers and being regarded as belonging to a high-status group could prevent adolescents from developing depressive feelings. Surprisingly, close friendships could both bring positive and negative influences on depression, depending on the situation. This paper emphasizes the symptoms, importance, affecting factors, and current treatments of MDD in adolescence, which further reveals that treatments for MDD in adolescents still need more consideration and studies to improve effectiveness and avoid harm.

Sandplay therapy for people coping with negative symptoms of psychosis: a theoretically promising option

ABSTRACT Sandplay therapy (SPT) is a promising approach to the treatment of negative psychosis symptoms, due to the psychodynamic lens it brings to both the underlying trauma and the attachment insecurity commonly associated with psychotic episodes. Additionally, SPT and other psychodynamic interventions offer a strengths-based alternative to a cognitive approach to the treatment of psychosis symptoms. Given the evidence that increasing social cognition, attachment security, and engagement with the imagination may all be associated with decreasing negative symptoms of psychosis, it is surprising that SPT, an expressive play therapy with Jungian origins, has not been tested for treatment of psychosis, even for negative symptoms, in any randomised clinical trials. Psychodynamic and cognitive perspectives on psychosis treatment are reviewed, exploring their different assumptions, and implications for direct social work practice as illustrated by a case example, are discussed.

Overcoming the civil wars: the role of attachment styles between the impact of war and psychological symptoms and post-traumatic growth among Libyan citizens

ABSTRACT Background: Civil wars in Libya have impacted the mental health of the general population. The ways in which individuals cope with traumatic events are influenced by several psychological variables. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate how post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) are associated with psychological symptoms and post-traumatic growth (PTG), and to evaluate the role of avoidant and anxious attachment dimensions as mediators in these associations, among Libyan citizens. Method: Three-hundred participants (147 females; age 31.0 ± 8.4 years) completed the Impact of Event Scale – Revised, Experiences in Close Relationships, Patient Health Questionnaire, and Post-traumatic Growth Inventory – Short Form. Results: The structural equation model revealed that insecure attachment dimensions mediated the association between PTSS and psychological symptoms and PTG. PTSS were positively associated with psychological symptoms, PTG, and both insecure attachment dimensions. Insecure attachment dimensions were positively associated with psychological symptoms and negatively with PTG. Conclusion: The present findings contribute to growing empirical research on the roles of insecure attachment dimensions in the association between the impact of war, psychological symptoms, and PTG.

How perceived mindful parenting prevents maladaptive academic behaviours: the mediating roles of insecure attachment and children mindfulness

The benefits of mindfulness have been noticed in academics, but whether and how perceived mindful parenting prevents maladaptive academic behaviours (e.g. rigid persistence, self-handicapping, and compulsive learning behaviour) have rarely been discussed. Therefore, a model of perceived mindful parenting, insecure attachment, children mindfulness, and maladaptive academic behaviours (a PAMB model) was constructed to address the issues. The participants were 739 junior high school students and structural equation modelling was used. The results were as follows: (a) The PAMB model fitted the observed data well. (b) Perceived mindful parenting negatively predicted maladaptive academic behaviours by promoting children mindfulness. (c) Insecure attachment and children mindfulness mediated in sequence the relation between perceived mindful parenting and maladaptive academic behaviours.

Insecure Attachment in Schizophrenia A Wider Range of Effect

Attachment serves as an important framework to understand the development, onset and recovery of schizophrenia. Categories of attachment include three organized patterns (secure, dismissing, preoccupied) and one disorganized pattern. Schizophrenia is a disorder typically recognized by delusions and hallucinations, which can significantly impair the patients normal social functioning. This article aims to summarize previous studies of attachment on schizophrenia, and provide new extensions. This paper also discusses the impact of environmental factors on schizophrenia. More importantly, dismissing and disorganized attachment serves as important predictors of positive and negative symptoms, difficult therapeutic relationship and longer course. Dismissing, preoccupied and disorganized attachment orientations also mediate childhood adversity according to previous studies. Based on analysis of cognitive and environmental factors, this article hypothesize that dismissing and preoccupied attachment also mediates schizophrenia and other environmental factors (parental age, migration and low SES). In addition, this article discusses cognitive and neuroscience evidence to prove the connections.

The Symptomatology and Psychosocial Risk Factors in Developing Callous-Unemotional Trait During Childhood and Adolescence

This paper reviews the current literature on the symptomatology and underlying psychosocial mechanisms for developing callous-unemotional (CU) traits across childhood and adolescence. CU traits include a lack of empathy, interpersonal callousness, and restricted affection. As much research has posited its crucial relatedness to multiple psychopathologies, including antisocial personality disorder, there is a pressing need for a more sophisticated understanding of the etiology, enabling the development of early interventions for CU traits. The current paper considers three aspects in its contribution to the etiology of CU traits: traumatic life events, parental influences, and interpersonal relationships. Current knowledge suggests that although the direct association between childhood maltreatment and CU traits is evident, many underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Additionally, parent influences may exert influence via insecure attachment relationships between infant and caregiver, affecting the internal working model, and via low childhood anxiety and harsh corporal punishment. The symptomatology of CU traits may also be consolidated by actively seeking to affiliate with deviant peers in school. These actions further reinforce their problematic belief in the social acceptance of aggressive behaviours to solve problems. This paper provides some reference for research in related fields. Future research should further elaborate on the potential implication of gender differences in literature; the psychosocial findings should incorporate the genetic-biological perspective in forming an integrated and coherent understanding of CU traits; and research should continue to address the potentiality in the clinical implication of research findings to develop valuable interventions for relevant psychopathologies.

The Role of Parent-Child Attachment, Hostile Attribution Bias in Aggression: A Meta-Analytic Review.

Parent-Child Attachment (PCA) and Hostile Attribution Bias (HAB) are closely related to aggression, but findings regarding their relationships are inconsistent. There is a lack of understanding of the underlying mechanism between PCA and aggression. This review employed meta-analysis approaches to investigate the associations between PCA and aggression, as well as between HAB and aggression, and the mechanism for the PCA-aggression association. An article search was conducted in CNKI, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, ProQuest, and Google Scholar. Totally, 118 studies involving general populations and those at high risk for aggression were included. Results revealed negative associations between Parent-Child Attachment Security (PCAS) and aggression (ρ = -.267, p < .001) and positive associations between Parent-Child Attachment Insecurity (PCAI) and aggression (ρ = .240, p < .05). HAB and aggression were found to be positively associated (ρ = .303, p < .001). As for the PCAS-aggression association, a larger effect size was found in females than in males. The HAB-reactive aggression association was stronger than the HAB-proactive aggression association. In Eastern culture, the association between HAB and aggression was stronger than in Western culture. HAB mediated the association between PCAS and aggression. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the occurrence and development of aggression by establishing an association between attachment theory and the social information processing model. The practical implications include interventions targeting cultivating PCAS and alleviating HAB, which might serve as effective ways to reduce aggression, yet aggression type, gender, and cultural background should be taken into consideration.

Reactive attachment disorder, disinhibited social engagement disorder, adverse childhood experiences, and mental health in an imprisoned young offender population

BackgroundA high proportion of young people in prison have a history of abuse and neglect, and/or of neurodevelopmental or psychiatric conditions. Despite this, the only two conditions specifically associated with abuse and neglect, Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) and Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder (DSED), have never been included as part of a comprehensive prevalence study. MethodsA cross sectional study, in 110 male inmates aged 16 to 23, examined the prevalence of, and associations between, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions, including RAD and DSED. OutcomesVirtually all of the young men (96 %) had one or more lifetime neurodevelopmental or mental health conditions, 85.5 % had a current condition, yet less than 3 % reported having received a mental health assessment in prison. High rates of RAD and/or DSED symptoms were found (53.6 %) and 74.5 % had experienced some form of abuse or neglect. InterpretationThere is a high prevalence of ACEs, RAD/DSED, neurodevelopmental and other mental health conditions within this population. Comprehensive clinical assessments are required to ensure appropriate support and staff training is needed to ensure that the full implications of the high prevalence of neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions are understood as part of trauma informed care.

Attachment insecurity, heart rate variability, and perceived social support in a diverse sample of young adults.

Psychological and physical factors are robustly associated with perceived social support. Drawing from the literature on attachment style in adults and psychophysiology, we examined the possibility that the interaction of attachment insecurity and resting heart rate variability (HRV) was associated with perceived social support in a diverse sample of young adults living in the U.S (N = 145, Mage = 20.45) that was majority Latino (n = 77). Analyses revealed three key findings. First, in the overall sample, attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety were negatively associated with perceived social support, but in the Latino sample, only attachment avoidance was negatively associated with perceived social support. Second, HRV was not associated with perceived social support in the overall sample nor in the Latino sample. Third, attachment insecurity and HRV interacted to predict perceived social support only in the Latino sample such that, for those with lower levels of HRV, attachment anxiety was positively associated with perceived social support. This study underscores the importance of examining both psychological and physiological processes with careful consideration of ethnicity/culture in order to better understand perceived social support.

Pre-event attachment anxiety and avoidance predict posttraumatic stress symptom severity – Results from a longitudinal population-based study

Attachment-related anxiety and avoidance have been identified as risk factors for psychopathology following traumatic events. However, the predictive value of pre-event attachment orientations for PTSD symptoms in the general population remains unclear. Attachment anxiety and avoidance, as well as symptoms of anxiety and depression, were assessed in autumn 2010 (T0) in 270 adult members of a Dutch research panel. PTSD symptoms were assessed in April (T1), August (T2), and December (T3) 2012 for events occurring within one year before T1. The predictive value of attachment orientations for severity and remission of PTSD cluster and total scores was estimated by latent growth curve analyses controlling for gender, age, and pre-event psychopathology. Attachment anxiety predicted higher posttraumatic stress severity at T1, while attachment avoidance predicted lower initial posttraumatic stress levels, together adding 7.4 % independently explained variance. Higher attachment anxiety was related to more remission of PTSD total scores (6.0 % independently explained variance) which might be understood as an effect of regression to the mean. In conclusion, insecure attachment orientation predicts PTSD symptoms in the general population. Our results advocate the significance of pre-traumatic factors for the prediction of posttraumatic stress and the consideration of attachment orientations in clinical work with trauma survivors.

Dating disagreements in adolescents: The role of daily romantic attachment and stress

Dating disagreements consist of divergences between partners’ opinions or needs. When left unresolved, dating disagreements may escalate into conflicts and even sometimes, to dating violence perpetration (DVP). Several risk factors have been documented for conflicts and DVP in adolescents, such as stress, attachment insecurities, and prior DVP, but they have never been explored in association with the events that usually precede conflicts and DVP: disagreements. This study aimed to examine (1) how adolescents’ variations in daily stress and attachment are associated with their probability of experiencing daily disagreements and their resolutions, and (2) whether adolescents’ DVP history moderates these associations. A sample of 216 dating adolescents answered a baseline questionnaire measuring DVP in the prior year and completed a 14-day online assessment of their stress, attachment states (anxiety, avoidance), dating disagreement occurrence, and resolution. Multilevel models indicated that on days when adolescents reported being more stressed or avoidant than usual, probability of disagreement occurrence was higher and of resolution weaker. Interaction effects of prior DVP were found for within and between-level attachment anxiety and between-level stress. Daily variations in stress and attachment may make adolescents vulnerable to disagreement, notably for those with prior DVP experiences. These findings support the relevance of examining daily variations in risk factors of dating disagreements and provide cues to enhance healthy dating relationships promotion programs developed for youth.