Child Attachment Research Articles

The effectiveness of the SATIR approach on parent-child attachment among adolescent mothers: a before-after study

Background Mother–child attachment is influenced by various factors, particularly social norms. It’s crucial to consider the impact of cultural contexts and societal expectations on parent-child attachment. Objective The study investigated the influence of counseling based on SATIR’s theory on parent-child attachment in Iranian adolescent mothers. Methods The study adopts a before-after design. It involves 33 adolescent mothers and their husbands. They received 6 sessions of counseling based on SATIR’s approach. Data were collected using the Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale (MPAS) in the pretest, post-test, and 6 weeks after the end of the counseling sessions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and repeated measures ANOVA at a 95% confidence level. Results The mean total score of the MPAS was 68.75 ± 7.7 in the pretest, 75.17 ± 6.44 in the post-test, and 77.75 ± 6.12 in the follow-up period which has increased over time (p = 0.001). The repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated the effectiveness of the intervention in enhancing overall attachment scores (59%) and the subscales of ‘quality of attachment’ by 56%, ‘absence of hostility’ by 21%, and ‘pleasure in interaction’ by 27%. Conclusion The study shows that using the SATIR approach effectively improves mother-child attachment in adolescent mothers after giving birth. Also, involving spouses in postpartum counseling programs seems to be a helpful strategy, indicating it should be taken into account by professionals in this area.

Psychometric evaluation of the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire in Polish mothers.

Parental reflective functioning (PRF) refers to a parent's capacity to reflect on and understand the inner mental states of their child, their own mental states with regard to their child, and how these mental states may influence their behavior and interactions. This capacity has been shown to foster secure attachment in children and their socio-emotional development. The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Polish translation of the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (PRFQ), a brief screening measure of PRF, in a large community sample of Polish mothers of children aged 0-5 years (N = 979). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the hypothesized three-factor structure of the PRFQ, which consists of three subscales: prementalizing modes, certainty about mental states, and interest and curiosity in mental states. However, item loadings suggested that the 15-item version fitted the data better than the original 18-item version. These three PRFQ subscales exhibited satisfactory and moderate six-month test-retest reliability. They also correlated in theoretically expected ways with several criterion measures such as maternal attachment, maternal parenting stress, parental role restriction, depression severity, and borderline symptoms. In conclusion, this study is the first to provide preliminary evidence for the reliability and validity of the PRFQ as a measure of parental reflective functioning in Polish mothers.

Predicting Children's Behavioral Disorders Based on Mothers' Parenting Styles with the Mediation of Children's Attachment Styles

Purpose: The prevalence of behavioral disorders in children is significant and is associated with mothers' parenting styles and attachment styles. The present study aimed to predict children's behavioral disorders based on mothers' parenting styles with the mediation of children's attachment styles in the city of Isfahan. Materials and Methods: The research method is descriptive-correlational. The research population included all children aged 8 to 11 years in the city of Isfahan in 2023, from whom 310 were selected as a sample through convenience sampling. The research tools included the Baumrind Parenting Styles Questionnaire (1991), the Kappenberg et al. Attachment Styles Questionnaire (2006), and the Rutter Behavioral Problems Questionnaire (1975). Findings: The findings showed that the path coefficients for the permissive parenting style were β = 0.26, for the authoritarian style β = 0.38, and for the authoritative style β = -0.14, all significant at P ≤ 0.05. The path coefficient for attachment styles to behavioral disorders was also β = 0.47, significant at P ≤ 0.05. Conclusion: Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that children's behavioral disorders can be predicted by mothers' parenting styles and attachment styles.

Supplemental Material for Maternal and Paternal Sensitivity: Key Determinants of Child Attachment Security Examined Through Meta-Analysis

Supplemental Material for Maternal and Paternal Sensitivity: Key Determinants of Child Attachment Security Examined Through Meta-Analysis

Development and efficacy of an ARC-centric parent-child play therapy program for the amelioration of symptoms pertaining to childhood attachment trauma

Development and efficacy of an ARC-centric parent-child play therapy program for the amelioration of symptoms pertaining to childhood attachment trauma

아동기 애착 외상이 여자 청소년의 자해 경험에 미치는 영향

The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating effect of mentalization on the effectsof childhood attachment trauma on self-injurious behavior in adolescent girls. The participantsof the study were 192 female adolescents who visited the youth counseling welfare center andchild and adolescent psychiatry, and they responded to the childhood traumaquestionnaire-short form, mentalization scale, and the functional assessment of self-mutilation. The result of this study was that mentalization has been shown to partially mediate therelationship between attachment trauma and self-harm. These results showed that attachmenttraumatic experiences made difficult for children to develop mentalization, and deficiencies orweakening of mentalization skills could significant impact on self-injurious behavior. The resultsof this study suggest that mentalization-based counseling interventions can prevent self-injuriousbehaviors in adolescent girls by developing mentalization skills.

Interpersonal Mechanisms Between Child Maltreatment Timing and Young Adult Internalizing and Externalizing Symptomatology

Children who experience maltreatment are prone to exhibit interpersonal deficits and lack secure attachment, which can lead to internalizing and externalizing symptomatology. This study investigated timing and chronicity of maltreatment and its impacts on psychopathology outcomes in young adulthood. Two interpersonal mediators were examined: problems with peers and childhood attachment security. Children with and without maltreatment exposure were recruited to take part in a 1-week research summer camp (N= 697; mean [SD] age= 11.29 [0.97] years; 71.3% Black or African American; 50.5% male). Participants were recontacted in young adulthood to complete a second wave of assessments (n= 427; mean [SD] age= 19.67 [1.16] years; 78.0% Black or African American; 48.9% male). Structural equation modeling was used to estimate indirect effects from child maltreatment timing to young adult internalizing and externalizing symptomatology via childhood attachment security and peer problems. Findings highlighted the detrimental impact of chronic maltreatment, which was associated with higher levels of peer problems (β= .24, p<.001) and less secure attachment (β=-.13, p< .01) in childhood. Also, lower attachment quality in childhood mediated the association between chronic maltreatment and self-reported internalizing (a× b= 0.02, p< .05) and externalizing symptomatology (a× b= 0.02, p< .05). Additionally, childhood peer problems mediated the association between chronic maltreatment and caregiver-reported internalizing problems (a× b= 0.04, p< .05). Chronic maltreatment is particularly harmful for interpersonal outcomes of children. Mediation findings differed by who reported on psychopathology, showing the importance of considering multireporter measures of psychopathology. Child maltreatment is an interpersonal stressor that may impact developmental outcomes throughout a youth's life. In this study of 697 children who participated in a 1-week research summer camp and were contacted in young adulthood, the authors found that chronic maltreatment significantly increased the risk of difficulties in forming secure attachments as well as having problems with peers during childhood. In turn, these challenges were linked to emotional and behavioral symptomology in young adulthood. These findings emphasize the need to support children facing chronic maltreatment to improve their long-term mental health.

Fostering Early Childhood Attachment: The Impact of Caregiver Relationships in Islamic Boarding School Education

Purpose – This study aimed to explore the role of attachment in the educational context of early childhood students (santri) residing and learning in Pesantren Mambaul Hisan, Indonesia. The research sought to investigate the attachment dynamics between 5- and 6-year-old santri and their caregivers, including its impact on cognitive and socio-emotional development. Design/methods/approach – This research adopted a qualitative case study approach, employing in-depth interviews, participant observation, and careful document analysis. The sample was selected purposively and consisted of 24 early childhood santri, 2 Islamic boarding school leaders, and 5 caregivers. Data were analyzed to understand the role of secure attachment in attaining Islamic boarding school educational goals. Findings – The study revealed that secure attachment among early childhood santri fostered comfortable communication, enhanced cognitive development, and promoted socio-emotional growth. The secure attachment of these young students played a positive role in achieving the educational objectives of the pesantren. This research contributed to the existing knowledge on the psychology of early childhood santri, socio-emotional development, and attachment in an Islamic boarding school context, enriching our understanding of the role of passion in Islamic boarding school education. Research implications/limitations – The findings of this study have important implications for improving the quality of early childhood education in Islamic boarding school settings. It underscores the significance of fostering secure attachment and the potential benefits of implementing attachment-based strategies in the education of young santri. Practical implications – Understanding the role of attachment in Islamic boarding school education for young children can inform the development of more effective educational strategies and support systems. Originality/value – This study adds a novel perspective by examining the role of attachment in the context of Islamic boarding school education for early childhood students. Paper type Research paper

Communication and Example of Parents as Mediators in The Relationship between Attachment and Students' Character Tolerance

In the last ten years there has been an increase in cases of intolerance in Indonesia. This illustrates the lack of strong character tolerance in perpetrators, most of whom are teenagers. This study aims to determine the relationship between children's attachment to parents and students' tolerance character by using parent-child communication and parental example in tolerance as mediator variables. The subjects of the study were 809 high school students in the city of Yogyakarta. This study uses a mixed methods approach, which is a mixture of quantitative and qualitative approaches with sequential explanatory design. The data collection method uses scales and interviews. As for quantitative data analysis techniques using GLM Mediated Analysis from Jamovi. From the results of the analysis can be concluded as follows: 1. There is a positive relationship between attachment to parents and students' tolerance character with parental example in tolerance as a mediator, 2. There is a positive relationship between attachment to parents and student tolerance character, but the mediator variable of parent-child communication quality cannot play a full role, 3. There is a significant positive relationship between attachment to parents and parental example in tolerant, 4. There is a significant positive relationship between parents' example in tolerance and students' tolerance character, 5. There was a significant positive relationship between child attachment to parents and parent-child communication, 6. There was no relationship between the quality of parent-child communication and the tolerance character of students, 7. There is a positive relationship between a child's attachment to parents and the student's tolerant character.

Чувашские пословицы и поговорки – этнопедагогическое средство приобщения к традиционным семейным ценностям

In modern society, the family is an important component of universal culture that preserves traditional national values. In the conditions of ongoing social changes leading to the growth of national self-consciousness, return to the roots, destruction of stereotypes, change of attitude to family values, it is necessary to preserve the understanding of the family as a traditional social institution. In this regard, the study of proverbs and sayings reflecting universal and national family values is of great importance. The aim of the study is to identify and substantiate family values in the upbringing of the younger generation in modern Chuvash families. The article considers traditional family values as the foundation of a strong and friendly family. The analysis of Chuvash proverbs and sayings about family life and family relations in the article shows that the Chuvash people place family values highly, brought up on national cultures and traditions. Our practical research shows that children's attachment to their parents is increasingly weakening. The lack of understanding of their children's behavior is explained by the following reasons: 1) parents' lack of fundamental pedagogical knowledge and skills; 2) parents' neglecting the basics of Chuvash family upbringing based on spiritual and moral values in the upbringing of their children. The author argues that the study of the basics of ethnic pedagogy will give positive results in the upbringing of children. The article used both general theoretical methods, including both the analysis of psychological and pedagogical literature on the topic under consideration, including encyclopedic and reference literature, folklore works, and empirical methods, including pedagogical observation, the use of questionnaires and surveys, and generalisation of ethnopedagogical experience. The experimental work was carried out to determine the moral potential of traditional family values in the Chuvash family. The author comes to the conclusion that Chuvash families have preserved national customs and traditions that they inherited from their ancestors in order to pass on to the next generations as a common reference point in their family life.

The Relationship Between Attachment Style and Aggression in Young School-Aged Children with Intellectual Disabilities

Attachment, which forms during childhood, specifically from the first year of life, is manifested as an emotional bond between the child and the primary attachment figure. It becomes a predictive factor for action mechanisms in emotionally charged situations. The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between the type of attachment and aggressiveness in young school-aged children with intellectual disabilities. We were interested in determining the extent to which the dominant attachment type influences the onset of behavioral disorders and aggressive reactions. The results obtained in the research process demonstrated the extent to which the dominant attachment type influences aggressive manifestations in children with intellectual disabilities.

Peculiarities of the formation of early attachment models in children with traumatic experiences

This article presents the results of a meta-analysis of relevant studies published in English literature between 2010 and 2022, focusing on the definition of traumatic experience, types of psychological trauma, early attachment models, and the concept of mentalization. The search services PsycInfo, PubMed, APA Web-of-Science, and Research Gate were used to accomplish the set objectives. The influence of childhood traumatic events on the development of primary attachment models was explored. It was established that early attachment models are internal representations or perceptions formed during childhood, that determine a child’s perception of close individuals and their relationships. The effectiveness and scientifically substantiated aspects of the Neurosequential Model in Education and the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) in working with children who have experienced traumatic events are described. It was found that childhood traumatic experience affects seven main aspects of psychology: sensory development, dissociation (changes in consciousness), attachment, affect regulation, behavioral regulation, cognitive domain, self-awareness, and identity development. Each type of traumatic experience has its conditions, characteristics, mechanisms, and consequences for the formation of early attachment models in children and overall psychosocial functioning. Thus, understanding the entire spectrum of changes, including neurobiological aspects, is crucial when working with children who have experienced traumatic events and require specialized support. This analysis revealed that the quality of parent-child interaction depends on parents' ability to mentalize and their capacity to understand the child‘s inner world, which, in turn, influences the formation of early childhood attachment models. Depending on the presence or absence of traumatic experiences in a child's life, different attachment styles can be developed. The identified generalizations shed light on the pathogenesis of relationship trauma-related disorders and can be practically applied in the development and implementation of professional recommendations or programs for psychosocial support for children who have experienced traumatic events. Emphasizing the necessity for further empirical research to gain a more detailed understanding of this issue.

어머니 양육태도가 유아의 애착안정성에 미치는 영향

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of mothers' parenting attitudes and smartphone overdependence on children's attachment stability.&#x0D; Methods The participants were 185 parents of children's in D city and G city who were in kindergartens and childcare centers. To examine the relationship between mothers' parenting attitude, smartphone overdependence, and children's attachment stability. we conducted analyses including means, correlations, and multiple regression analysis.&#x0D; Results The results of this study are as follows. First, The difference in smartphone overdependence according to the level of smartphone use and use of mothers and children's was confirmed. Second, Mother's parenting attitude and smartphone overdependence are negatively correlated, the mother's parenting attitude and attachment stability are positively correlated, there was a negative correlation between children's smartphone overdependence and attachment stability. Third, In the relationship between affectionate parenting attitudes and attachment stability of children's smartphone overdependence was found to have a partial mediating effect.&#x0D; Conclusions These results confirmed that the mother's affectionate parenting attitude and excessive use of smartphones were significant for the attachment stability of children's, this suggests that intervention is needed in consideration of the mother's parenting attitude and smartphone overdependence as a way to support the stable attachment stability of children's.

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.

Middle childhood attachment is related to adolescent early maladaptive schemas

Middle childhood attachment is related to adolescent early maladaptive schemas

Culturally Diverse Parenting: Deconstructing Attachment Theory

Purpose: The purpose of this article was to explore the general principles of attachment theory in the context of culturally diverse parenting practices, analyze its systemic impact on culturally diverse families, and describe its implications to the field of speech-language pathology. Method: Attachment theory emphasizes the general principles of proximity, safety, and secure base. These values are known to promote healthy parent–child relationships that influence long-term developmental outcomes. However, systems based on attachment theory, which are premised in Eurocentric parenting practices, may often misinterpret or overlook culturally diverse parenting styles. Such misunderstandings can have serious socio-legal implications on families from culturally diverse backgrounds and can lead to paradigmatic influences in clinical contexts relating to communication development. Conclusions: A cultural basis for attachment questions the fixed notions of attachment theory and emphasizes the need for alternative frameworks to understand parental sensitivity, secure base, and proximity. As attachment theory has influenced norms and expectations in parent–child communication development, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) will benefit from recognizing this bias and its influence on culturally and linguistically diverse families. Understanding socially diverse parenting styles can provide SLPs with meaningful information on the importance of cultural variability in parent–child attachment, so that clinical assessment and intervention practices incorporate culturally responsive parenting frameworks.

A framework for how homelessness impacts children's attachments to their caregiver

AbstractIn this paper, I create a framework that explains how homelessness reduces a child's attachment security. Attachment theory states how over time and repeated interactions, children and caregivers develop patterns of behavior that foster the development of children's schemas about what to generally expect from relationships with others. In order for children to develop secure attachments, a caregiver must be consistent and sensitive when responding to their child. Homeless caregivers have to juggle many stressors at once and therefore have fewer mental or physical resources (the effects of caregiver stress) to devote to consistent, sensitive, and responsive caregiving. This theoretically grounded framework proposes that stressors affect homeless caregivers, which in turn affects their effective parenting effort, which ultimately impacts the child's attachment. I describe in detail each of the proposed associations in the framework and summarize existing literature that supports these theoretical processes. Limitations and future directions are also discussed.

How Does Interpersonal Gratitude Relate to Adolescent Life Satisfaction? The Roles of Parent–Child Relationship and Attachment Insecurity

How Does Interpersonal Gratitude Relate to Adolescent Life Satisfaction? The Roles of Parent–Child Relationship and Attachment Insecurity

Adolescents’ Perceived Changes in Internalizing Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Father Internalizing Symptoms and Parent Support in Germany and Slovakia

This preregistered study examined the relation between adolescents’ perceived changes in internalizing symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic and four different family and peer relationships in two countries. Using a bioecological framework, we interviewed mothers, fathers, and adolescents from 212 families in Germany and Slovakia during the COVID-19 pandemic. In both countries, we found that higher levels of father internalizing symptoms exacerbated the relation between pandemic disruption and increases in pandemic-related adolescent internalizing symptoms. Similarly, parental support buffered the relation between adolescent perceptions of COVID-19 disruption and increases in the adolescents’ internalizing symptoms. Peer support and parental warmth were not associated with changes in adolescent-reported internalizing symptoms during the study period. The fathers’ symptoms of anxiety and depression during stressful life events may impact the parent–child relationship by changing the children’s perceptions of parent–child attachment, which may, in turn, be associated with higher levels of adolescent internalizing symptoms. Higher levels of parental support, however, may have helped protect adolescents from some of the more negative aspects of the pandemic.

Drawing a Home: Insights on Child Attachment from the Bird’s Nest Drawing Test

Background: Attachment is a fundamental aspect of human development. Insecure attachment is associated with various negative outcomes, including mental health problems, relationship difficulties, and academic problems. Bird’s Nest Drawing (BND) is widely known as a projective test to assess attachment. Study aims: This review aimed to (1) critically assess BND and its interpretation toward various attachment styles and (2) examine BND's strengths and operational challenges and (3) provide insight into the cultural and contextual factors that may affect the interpretation of the test results. Method: This study is a literature review with a narrative synthesis approach. Eligibility criteria were accessed through the SPIDER framework. We focused on studies investigating the relationship between BND and attachment theory, with no age restrictions for participants. The authors followed Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal checklist to evaluate chosen literature's quality. A narrative synthesis was performed to extract information that can be compared or integrated. Result: Ten studies met the eligibility criteria. The results suggest that texture, colors, and narration following the drawings are strongly associated with attachment security, while other variables show weaker associations with attachment. Conclusion: The BND test is beneficial to explore individuals’ perception and attachment relationships, particularly with their primary caregiver. However, further studies are needed to assess interrater reliability for some themes and cultural context in BND interpretation.