Child Attachment Research Articles

Parental Insightfulness, Parental Sensitivity, Parent and Child Mental Health, and Attachment in Autistic Children: A Systematic Review

AbstractThis systematic review aimed to examine whether parental insightfulness is associated with parental sensitivity, parent and child mental health, and attachment in autistic children. Eligible articles used a quantitative research design and included participants who were parents or caregivers of a child diagnosed with autism and who completed a measure of parental insightfulness. Eight papers (six studies) met inclusion criteria. Parental insightfulness was associated with higher parental sensitivity and attachment security. No studies investigated associations between parental insightfulness and parent mental health. Although research is limited, parental insightfulness appears to be associated with parental sensitivity and child attachment in families of autistic children. More research is required to confirm whether these relationships exist cross-culturally, and with different caregivers.

Family therapy and EMDR after child abuse and neglect: moderating effects of child attachment style and PTSD symptoms on treatment outcome

ABSTRACT Background: Effective and appropriate care and treatment for children in order to decrease the psychosocial problems that arose after experiencing child abuse and neglect (CAN) is of vital importance, given the severity of symptomatology that may develop. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to examine whether attachment style and core cluster Posttraumatic Stress Disorder symptoms acted as moderators for treatment outcomes of a new integrative treatment model for trauma and attachment. In this treatment model, family therapy is combined with EMDR and obstacles for trauma processing are tackled first. Method: we included children, ages 6–12 years, with a history of CAN, who did not respond to evidence-based trauma treatment. Target treatment outcomes were problems in attachment, posttraumatic stress symptoms, behaviour, and emotion regulation. We conducted a multiple-baseline ABC Single-Case Experimental Design (SCED). We categorized 12 participants into four groups of attachment style and core cluster PTSD symptoms: (1) non-disorganized & re-experiencing; (2) non-disorganized & avoidance/hyperarousal; (3) disorganized & re-experiencing; & (4) disorganized & avoidance/hyperarousal. We compared the four groups with each other and across time, and the interaction between groups and effect over time. We conducted non-parametric permutation tests and estimated q-values for false discovery rate control. Results: Children with a disorganized attachment style had more severe symptomatology in general, except for posttraumatic stress symptoms. The treatment appeared more effective in targeting and successfully treating children with a non-disorganized attachment style, and specifically children with a non-disorganized attachment style and re-experiencing as core cluster PTSD symptoms. Conclusion: Our study underlines the complexity of treating children who developed a complicated combination of symptomatology after CAN and calls for the continuous development of innovative interventions.

The Predictive Role of Preschool Children's Attachment on Social Competence, Anxiety, Aggression and Self-Control: Peer Relationships as a Mediator.

The main purpose of this study is to examine the predictive role of preschool children's attachment on social competence, anxiety, aggression, and self-control of 5-year-old children (60-71 months), and to test the mediating effect of peer relationships in this model. A total of 309 children participated in the study. The data of the study were collected through the teacher checklist of peer relationships, the social competence and behavior evaluation scale-30, the self-control rating scale which the teacher filled out, and the doll story completion task which the researcher used during the application process. Path analysis was used to explain the direct and indirect relationships between the variables, and a Sobel test was also used to determine the mediational role of peer relationships. The results showed that peer relationships had a mediating effect on parental attachment between anxiety, anger, social competence, and self-control. This study shows that the reflections of insecure attachment experienced in the first years of life can be reduced by peer relationships and the reflections of secure attachment can be strengthened by peer relationships.

Late Adolescents' Early Maladaptive Schemas: Are They Longitudinally Linked with Middle Childhood Temperament Over and Above Attachment?

Temperament is thought to influence the development of early maladaptive schemas (EMSs). However, whether temperament is longitudinally related to EMSs beyond attachment, the best known predictor of EMSs, hasbeen underexplored. Hence, this study investigated (1) Whether middle childhood temperament is longitudinally related to late adolescent EMSs, (2) To what extent temperament explains EMSs beyond middle childhood attachment, and (3) Whether attachment moderates this temperament-EMSs link. In total, 157 children (Mage = 10.91 in middle childhood,Mage = 16.71 in late adolescence) participated in this study. Adolescent EMSs were assessed along with middle childhood temperamental negative affect, affiliation, surgency, and effortful control, and attachment at both explicit and implicit levels. Results indicated that all temperamental features were longitudinally related to later EMSs; themajority of the temperament-EMSs links did not survive after controlling for attachment, except for some limited correlations between EMSs and negative affect and effortful control; and an inconsistent moderating effect for attachment on the temperament-EMSs link. This study provides further insight into the role of child factors (middle childhood temperament and late adolescent attachment) in understanding EMSs variability in late adolescence. It suggests that EMSs are informed more by past relational experiences (attachment) thanchildren'sinborn tendencies (temperament).

Intergenerational coparenting and child development outcomes: A systematic review

AbstractGrandparents often serve important childrearing roles. The present study is a systematic review of research that examined the association between intergenerational coparenting and children's development. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines, 220 records were identified, and 16 studies were included in the final review. The review provided a detailed analysis of the methodological characteristics of research in this area. Findings indicated that better intergenerational coparenting was associated with higher levels of children's social competence, executive functioning, and attachment security. Evidence also suggests parenting mediates the relation between intergenerational coparenting and child development. Several directions for future research emerged from the review including the need (a) for measurement strategies that reflect the multidimensional nature of intergenerational coparenting, (b) to consider the various parent‐grandparent dyads, and (c) to incorporate other family factors and processes (e.g., quality of parent‐grandparent relationships) into studies that focus on intergenerational coparenting.

Mechanisms of Social Attachment Between Children and Pet Dogs.

An increasing body of evidence indicates that owning a pet dog is associated with improvements in child health and well-being. Importantly, the degree of the social bond between child and dog may mediate the beneficial outcomes of dog ownership. The formation of social bonds is an intrinsically dyadic, interactive process where each interactor's behavior influences the other's behavior. For this reason, it is critical to evaluate the biological mechanisms of attachment in both children and their pet dogs as a socially bonded pair. Here, we review the physical, mental, and emotional outcomes that are associated with pet dog ownership or interaction in children. We then discuss the evidence that suggests that the strength of a social bond between a child and their pet dog matters for maximizing the beneficial outcomes associated with pet dog ownership, such as possible stress-buffering effects. We review the existing literature on the neural and endocrinological mechanisms of social attachment for inter-species social bonds that form between human children and dogs, situating this emerging knowledge within the context of the mechanisms of intra-species bonds in mammals. Finally, we highlight the remaining open questions and point toward directions for future research.

Maternal sensitivity and child attachment security in a low SES Peruvian sample: longitudinal relationships

ABSTRACT We tested the generalizability of the sensitivity-security link in a sample of 35 preschooler-mother dyads from a low socioeconomic district in Lima, Peru. We first describe maternal sensitivity and attachment security at two timepoints during early childhood. Second, we investigated the stability of attachment security and maternal sensitivity over a time span of one year. Third, we tested the association between sensitivity and security at each timepoint. Finally, we investigated whether changes in maternal sensitivity predict changes in child security. The results indicated that sensitivity and security were lower than scores reported in the literature for middle-class samples. T2 maternal sensitivity scores were significantly higher than T1 sensitivity scores, and no significant differences were found between T1 and T2 security. Sensitivity and security were associated at both timepoints, after controlling for socio-demographic variables. One-tail test indicated that changes in maternal sensitivity were associated with changes in child security.

Silent Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Parental Attachment in Pediatric Patients.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to isolation measures intended to curb the spread of infection, which are believed to have negatively affected children's psychological well-being. This study examines the impact of the pandemic on parental attachment with children. A cross-sectional study was conducted with children visiting a general pediatrics clinic between April 1 and 20, 2023. Their COVID-19 infection history was recorded, and the Kern's Attachment Questionnaire was used to assess parental attachment in children who had contracted COVID-19 and those who had not. The study involved 716 patients aged 9-12, divided into two groups: those who had contracted COVID-19 (n=253) and those who had not (n=463). Kern's Attachment Questionnaire scores for mothers were 46.3 for children with COVID-19 and 49.4 for those without. For fathers, the scores were 43.9 and 48, respectively. Children who had contracted COVID-19 showed significantly lower attachment scores to both mothers and fathers compared to the control group (p=0.04, p=0.00). The pandemic's long-term biopsychosocial effects are evident, with increased stress and negative experiences posing risks to child development, particularly in terms of parental attachment. While early attachment begins in infancy, it continues to evolve. This study underscores the need for behavioral and psychological follow-up for adolescents in the post-pandemic period.

Father-separation and well-being in forcibly displaced Syrian children

ABSTRACT Forcibly displaced children often face separation from their parents, particularly fathers. These children endure the hardships of war, displacement, and the loss of a key attachment figure. Despite the critical role of attachment in children’s well-being during periods of heightened stress, the impact of separation due to war and displacement has received little attention in empirical work. Findings from 1544 Syrian refugee children (M age = 10.97, SD = 2.27) living in informal settlements in Lebanon with their mothers (M age = 38.07, SD = 8.49), including 367 father-separated children, show that father-separated children experienced more war-related events and worse refugee environments. Structural equation modelling showed that beyond the direct relation of war exposure and quality of the refugee environment on well-being, father separation was uniquely related to more depressive symptoms and worse self-development, but not to anxiety, PTSD, or externalising problems in children. Maternal parenting did not explain these outcomes, though it had a protective function for children’s well-being.

Efficacy of behavioural parent training on attachment security in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomised controlled trial

BackgroundBehavioural parent training (BPT) is a psychosocial intervention designed for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). BPT programs teach parents to use effective commands or rules whilst encouraging them to pay careful attention to their child’s appropriate behaviour. In this study, we will investigate the efficacy of BPT on parental stress, mothers’ sense of emotional closeness to their children, and children’s attachment security to their mothers. We will also examine the effects of BPT on children’s internalising and externalising symptoms, ADHD symptoms, and sensitivity to rewards and punishments compared to usual care alone. The use of bias-prone assessment tools limits the ability of previous studies to assess effectiveness. Therefore, in this study, the child’s attachment security will be assessed in a structured interview conducted by assessors blinded to group allocation, and brain changes will be assessed using magnetic resonance imaging.MethodsThis randomised controlled clinical trial will aim to compare the efficacy of BPT to routine clinical care for 60 children with ADHD. Participants will be randomised, with stratification by medication status for ADHD (medicated or non-medicated). The BPT intervention group will receive parent training weekly for 10 weeks in a group of six or less. The primary outcome measure will be changes in parental stress. Furthermore, the key secondary outcome measure will be the child’s attachment security, which will be assessed in an interview conducted by assessors blinded to group allocation. We will also evaluate changes in neural connectivity in both children and mothers using magnetic resonance imaging. Other secondary outcomes will include child behavioural problems, ADHD symptoms, emotional regulation, child sensitivity to rewards and punishments, parental behaviour, and the child and parent’s social support network following the completion of 10 sessions.DiscussionThis study represents the first randomised controlled trial exploring the efficacy of BPT on child attachment security and mothers’ sense of emotional closeness to their children. It aims to provide robust evidence to assist parents of children with ADHD in making appropriate treatment decisions.Trial registrationUMIN000038693. Registered on November 9, 2019.

Parental History of Childhood Maltreatment and Offspring Attachment Insecurity and Disorganization: Two Meta-Analyses.

Research findings have shown that parental history of childhood maltreatment (CM) increases the risk of insecure and disorganized attachment in offspring. However, the extent of the detrimental effects of childhood trauma on attachment in the next generation is unclear. The current meta-analyses aimed at synthesizing the available literature on the link between parental history of CM and offspring attachment insecurity and disorganization (with no restriction of offspring age). In total, 25 studies (23 unique samples; N = 2,592) comprising u = 61 effect sizes were included. Offspring age ranged from 12 to 79 months (Mweighted = 18.69; SDweighted = 11.53). Findings from two three-level random effects meta-analyses revealed a weak but significant combined effect of parental history of CM on child attachment insecurity (k = 20, u = 35, r = .06) and a non-significant effect on child attachment disorganization (k = 12, u = 26, r = .03). For the meta-analysis on disorganization, effect sizes were weaker in more recent studies, and trim and fill analyses provided evidence of publication bias. These findings provide a nuanced view of the intergenerational transmission of childhood trauma phenomenon, whereby parents' self-reported history of CM does not appear decisive for child attachment. Conclusions could not be drawn for specific types of CM because of the small number of studies. Research with more objective measures of parental exposure to CM is needed to gain a more comprehensive view of the possible intergenerational effects of CM on child attachment.

Secure base and mental health in children: a narrative review.

Childhood is a crucial period for the formation of an individual's attachment type. Previous studies focused more on how to directly intervene in children's mental health problems such as depression, and less on how to improve children's mental health from the perspective of attachment relationship. Secure base, as one of the core concepts of attachment theory, plays an important role in the whole process of children's psychological development. In this article, we review the concept of the secure base, describe current clinical practice and suggest future directions. A literature search was performed within electronic databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, and CNKI. Chinese and English articles focusing on the secure base and attachment relationship among children were retrieved. Their publication dates were set from the inception of the database to August 6, 2024. While the secure base significantly impacts early childhood, a safe base may also be established through group and teacher-student relationships to activate individual secure attachment schemas. Most prior studies concentrated on the mother-child bond, with limited exploration of the father's role in the family dynamic. Furthermore, children's secure attachment development is not only influenced by parents' secure base script knowledge (SBSK) but also by intergenerational transmission. The underlying structure of secure base scripting knowledge plays a distinct role in middle childhood mental health. The mechanism by which family structure, the functional division of family roles, and the potential structure of safe-base script knowledge influence children's secure attachment development at various stages warrants further elucidation, including investigating cross-gender and cross-cultural stability. To facilitate the development of children's secure attachment pathways, it is essential to consider different attachment styles within parents and diverse family structures (including those in lesbian, gay, bisexual). From a clinical psychotherapy perspective, this review offered novel insights and practical guidance on how the secure base mechanism impacts children's mental health, with the overarching goal of mitigating the risk of mental health problems.

Pädagogische Beziehungen aus Sicht von Lehrpersonen und kindliche Einflussfaktoren

The quality of the student-teacher-relationship undoubtedly has a significant influence on the child's development and learning processes. However, it is not independent of influencing factors on the part of the child. International studies have so far been able to identify a large number of factors influencing the quality of the teacher-student-relationship. Studies from German-speaking countries, on the other hand, have so far only been marginally represented. This cross-sectional study aims to investigate influencing factors of the child (attachment pattern, behavioral problems, gender and socioeconomic status) on the perception of relationship quality from the perspective of teachers with primary school children (N = 44). The results of the multivariate analysis of variance provide an indication that the relationship quality differs depending on the interaction of various child-related influencing factors. In particular, the socio-economic status in the present sample proved to be significant in interaction with the children's attachment pattern and gender. This has implications for a milieu- and gender-sensitive, attachment sensitive and responsive interaction with the children as the basis for a successful student-teacher-relationship.

아동기 애착외상 경험이 있는 한 성인의 가족관계 경험과 회복에 대한 자문화기술지

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of childhood attachment trauma experiences in the original family on the experience of family relationships after marriage and the experience of restoring family relationships in the process of post-traumatic recovery from an insider's point of view, to help understand those who have experienced such trauma and to suggest counseling implications. Methods: For this purpose, we applied autoethnography, a qualitative research method, to collect data such as memory data, diary data including self-observation and self-analysis, and family interviews. The collected data were subjected to value coding, emotion coding, and longitudinal coding during data analysis. Results: As a result, it was confirmed that the experience of attachment trauma continues across generations and that maladaptive psychological processes resulting from the traumatic experience are repeated in family relationships after marriage. Moreover, the changing factors that appeared in the process of recovering family relationships were identified. Conclusions: The significance and limitations of this study were presented.

Parental attachment and emotion regulation in children: the mediating role of working memory

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of children's working memory levels in the relationship between attachment insecurity levels and emotion regulation skills. A total of 150 children aged 5 years, 75 girls and 75 boys, were selected by the stratified cluster sampling method and their mothers participated in the study. The data were collected using the Memory Battery for Preschool Children, Attachment Insecurity Screening Inventory, Emotion Regulation Skills Scale and Coping with Child's Negative Emotions Scale. The findings indicate that the child's level of attachment insecurity to parents is directly associated with both emotion regulation skills and working memory capacity. Additionally, the study reveals that as the working memory levels of children increase, their emotion regulation skills also increase. The final finding of the study indicates that the child's working memory levels mediate the effect of attachment insecurity on emotion regulation skills. The results of this study indicate that children with insecure attachment should be given support to improve their working memory performance, to enhance their emotional regulation skills. This suggests that even in the context of attachment insecurity, the development of emotion regulation skills can be supported by fostering working memory development.

Unveiling the hidden connections: network analysis of depressive symptoms, internet addiction, and attachment in Chinese children and adolescents

BackgroundChildren and adolescents diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) often grapple with significant non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), linked to interpersonal challenges, insecure attachment, and internet addiction. This study explores these relationships in children and adolescents using network analysis, drawing data from seven hospitals in China.ResultsThe study included 162 youths with depressive disorder and 102 healthy controls from seven hospitals. The MDD + NSSI group exhibited severe internet addiction, heightened depressive symptoms, and insecure attachment. Network analysis identified central symptoms (compulsive use) and key bridge symptoms (tolerance symptoms) in the networks related to depressive symptoms, internet addiction, and attachments. These findings suggest potential targets for intervention among children and adolescents at risk for or suffering from depression.ConclusionsThis study sheds light on the intricate relationship between NSSI, attachment issues, and internet addiction in Chinese adolescents with MDD. The network analysis pinpointed central and key bridge symptoms, offering valuable insights for targeted interventions in children and adolescents at risk for or experiencing depression and associated challenges.

The effects of parent and child participation in visual art activities on the attachment and well-being of young children: A mixed-methods systematic review.

The effects of parent and child participation in visual art activities on the attachment and well-being of young children: A mixed-methods systematic review.

A Comprehensive Scoping Review of Empirical Studies on Earned Secure Attachment.

Earned-Secure Attachment (ESA) can be defined as the process by which individuals with insecure childhood attachment rise above malevolent childhood experiences to develop secure relationships pattern in adulthood. To our knowledge, no previous review has summarized findings from empirical literature about this topic. To fill this gap, we conduct a preregistered scoping review (research published until 2023) following the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews, to find how ESA has been defined, assessed, and studied in the empirical literature. Four databases were searched (Scopus, PsycInfo, PubMed and Web of Science), 24 studies were included in the review and were assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Findings from our review reveal a more formal than substantial agreement on the conceptualization of ESA and the conclusions that can be made, considering the heterogeneity of our results, are only preliminary. Developmental factors, the association between ESA and depressive symptoms and the role of fathers remain poorly defined, although the importance of secondary attachment figures and reflective functioning as factors that may contribute to earned-security in attachment is clear. Recommendations and future steps for researchers and practitioners are highlighted.

Longitudinal relationship between parent–child attachment and suicidal ideation in children: Mediating roles of beliefs about adversity and hope

Suicide has been an important topic in recent years, but no previous studies have investigated suicide from the perspective of parent–child attachment and positive psychological qualities. Thus, we aimed to examine the relationship between parent–child attachment and children's suicidal ideation, as well as the mechanism involved. In total, 681 fourth-grade students from three elementary schools in Suzhou, China, were surveyed for two years. The results showed the following. (1) Mother–child attachment directly predicted suicidal ideation in children whereas father–child attachment did not. (2) Mother–child attachment indirectly predicted suicidal ideation in children via beliefs about adversity and hope, and father–child attachment indirectly predicted suicidal ideation in children via beliefs about adversity. (3) Parent–child attachment indirectly predicted suicidal ideation in children through beliefs about adversity (M1) and hope (M2) as a mediator set. Revealing the mechanisms associated with the generation and formation of suicidal ideation in children can help prevent possible future suicidal behaviors in children.

Mother phubbing and adolescent loneliness: A three-way moderation model involving attachment anxiety and need to belong

Research interest in exploring the negative impacts of mother phubbing on adolescent development is growing. However, limited research has explored the association between mother phubbing and adolescent loneliness, and even less is known about the potential moderating effects within this association. Thus, this study tested the association between mother phubbing and adolescent loneliness and examined whether mother–child attachment anxiety and need to belong simultaneously moderated this relationship. Participants were 4213 high school students (52.5 % boys; Mage = 16.41, SD=0.77) from five provinces in China. They completed questionnaires on demographic information, mother phubbing, loneliness, mother–child attachment anxiety, and need to belong. After controlling for demographic variables, the results revealed that mother phubbing was positively related to adolescent loneliness. Mother-child attachment anxiety exacerbated the relationship between mother phubbing and adolescent loneliness. Moreover, the three-way interaction effect of mother phubbing, mother–child attachment anxiety, and need to belong on adolescent loneliness was significant. Specifically, the relationship between mother phubbing and loneliness was non-significant only for adolescents low in both mother–child attachment anxiety and need to belong. The limitations and implications of these findings are discussed.