Attachment Relationships Research Articles

A look inside family reunification for children with attachment difficulties: An exploratory study

Stability of care among vulnerable children is the primary goal following out-of-home placement. While family reunification is the preferred option for child placement when a return to the home of origin is conceivable, it is not a guarantee of stability and quite often fails. It is known that many children who experience out-of-home placement develop attachment difficulties stemming from the ruptures or instability that they have experienced within their primary attachment relationships. Reunification is therefore a very sensitive period for these children as they are at-risk of experiencing another rupture in attachment bonds in the case of a re-placement. To better understand the reunification process for children identified with attachment difficulties, this exploratory study investigates the association between the history of placement, contacts with the parent prior to reunification, services offered during the reunification process and child and parental functioning issues among children identified with and without attachment difficulties. The sample consists of 146 families who experienced reunification. Results indicated that in comparison with children without attachment difficulties, children identified with attachment difficulties during the reunification process spent more days in out-of-home care, were offered more services and presented greater cumulative difficulties than their counterparts. These results suggest that children with attachment difficulties have a distinct profile and underscore the importance of considering both individual and relational characteristics when supporting these families through the reunification process.

Art at the Start: A controlled trial and close observation of parent-infant art therapy intervention.

This two-part study seeks to evidence art therapy intervention for parent-infant attachment relationships, looking at improvements to wellbeing and relationships. Study one was a controlled trial with 105 participating parent/caregivers and their infants (0-3-years), identified due to concerns about their relationship. They were quasi-randomized to attend a 12-week art therapy group or treatment as usual. Measures focused on parents' wellbeing and their perceptions of their relationship with their infant. In study 2 we analyzed video footage from the first and penultimate sessions of a sample of 37 dyads, looking for observable changes in the different channels of communication upon which attachments are predicated. The controlled trial showed intervention participants had significantly improved parental wellbeing, significant increases in attachment warmth and significant decreases in intrusion. This contrasted with the control sample who showed a significant decrease in wellbeing, stable warmth, and significant increases in intrusion. The observation study showed that there was a significant increase in the communicative behaviors from the parents to the infant which would support attachments between the first and penultimate sessions. We conclude that these results make a robust case for the inclusion of art therapy within the range of interventions available for at risk early relationships.

The relationship between perceived restorativeness and place attachment for hikers at Jeju Gotjawal Provincial Park in South Korea: the moderating effect of environmental sensitivity.

Jeju Gotjawal Provincial Park provides visitors with opportunities for outdoor recreation and informs visitors of the environmental significance of the park's ecosystem. This study attempted to examine how the perceived restorativeness of park visitors influenced their place attachment. In addition, the moderating effect of environmental sensitivity on the hypothesized relationship was explored. Using the purposive sampling method, 408 surveys were collected at Jeju Gotjawal Provincial Park. The hypotheses were tested by confirmatory factor analysis, path analysis, and invariance tests using Lisrel 8.70. The results indicated that perceived restorativeness had a positive influence on place attachment (place identity and place dependence). Further, the hypothesized relationship was stronger for the visitors with higher environmental sensitivity, compared to those with weaker environmental sensitivity. Park managers should consider ways to increase the perceived restorativeness of visitors as they experience the natural environment at the park. Also, since environmental sensitivity played an important role in shaping the perceived restorativeness-place attachment relationship, there is a need for educational programs that can inform visitors of the significance of the natural environment to increase their affection for nature.

Relationship focused mother-infant groups: Preliminary evaluation of improvements in maternal mental health, parenting confidence, and parental reflective functioning.

We report on two preliminary evaluations of a group intervention, targeting vulnerable infants and their mothers within the first 6-months postpartum. The Mother-Baby Nurture® program aims to strengthen the developing infant-mother attachment relationship by increasing maternal mentalizing. These studies were undertaken with pre-post evaluations with the mothers of infants under 10-months of age. The mother-infant dyads participated in ten 2-h group sessions. Study one (N=69 dyads) included self-reported maternal depression, anxiety, and parenting confidence. In study two (N=27 dyads), parenting stress and reflective functioning were measured by self-report, and reflective functioning coded on the 5 min speech sample (completed by N=22). Results from study one confirmed a decrease in depression (p<.001, d=.79) and anxiety (p<.001, d=.72) symptoms, and an increase in mothers' scores for parenting confidence (p<.001, d=-.98). Results from Study Two demonstrated a significant decrease in parenting stress (p<.001, d=.94) and significant improvement in measures of self-report reflective functioning (p=.007, .024; d=.56, .61). These findings are preliminary yet promising indications that this program could be effective in alleviating parenting stress, depression, and anxiety, and improving mother's reflective functioning and parenting confidence. Further research is needed, with a control group and long-term follow-up assessments.

Social intimacy and skewed love: A study of the attachment relationship between internet group young users and a digital human

Interactions between human beings and digital humans have become a new network phenomenon, and these relationships have gradually become a topic of research. There is still a lack of sufficient research on whether and what kind of attachment relationship exists in these situations. Based on this problem, in this study, a digital human was designed that was oriented to social software and put into chat groups for interaction and research. A questionnaire survey, case analysis, and netnography analysis were used to collect and examine relevant data. The study found a correlation between the type of attachment of users and the degree of attachment to the digital human. In addition, users who were heavily dependent on the network were more likely to try to complete their attachment with the digital human. Attachment with the digital human was able to calm the users’ emotional intensity. This attachment was considered as close to a skewed desire projection. Through the intermediary of a digital human, Internet users have been better able to fulfill some of their own desires.

Antibiotic Consumption, Illness, and Maternal Sensitivity in Infants with a Disorganized Attachment.

Prior research found an association between mother-infant attachment and antibiotic use. Ambivalent-attached infants are more likely to take antibiotics than other infants, and their mothers tend to be less sensitive to their needs than most. This finding is important because it shows the association between psychological processes, early relationships, and health outcomes. We aim to learn about children with high-risk attachment relationships, such as disorganized-attached infants. This study compares antibiotic use, infant-mother interactive behavior, and health indicators according to infant attachment patterns (including disorganized attachment). For this purpose, we observed mothers-infants' interactive behavior in free play at nine months and infants' attachment in the Ainsworth Strange Situation at twelve months. Participants included 77 girls and 104 boys (full-term and preterm) and their mothers. Paradoxically, mothers of disorganized-attached infants reported that their children were ill only 1.56 times on average, but 61% of their children used antibiotics in the first nine months. The other mothers reported that their children were sick 5.73 times on average, but only 54% of their children used antibiotics in the same period. Infants with disorganized attachment had mothers who were more literate and less sensitive. These results add to a body of research that shows that early high-risk relationships affect children's lives at multiple levels.

Actually, today was a good day, so today we're doing all right: Parental perspectives on a dyadic group art therapy intervention for parent and infant wellbeing and attachments

In this study we sought to capture the experiences of parents who had attended a parent-infant art therapy group to support their wellbeing and attachment relationships. The groups lasted 12 weeks and had a focus on using shared art making experiences to bring the dyads into positive interactions. 50 parents attended the groups with their children. We asked them to complete surveys at the end of the art therapy group and later followed up a sample of participants for in depth interviews. We analysed both of these using reflexive thematic analysis. Our organisation of themes lays out the difficulties facing parents, what enabled them to take part, the mechanisms of change within the art therapy intervention, and the outcomes parents observed. The analysis evidences the changes parents identified in how they felt themselves and how they felt about their baby, with an important shift to enjoying their role as parents, feeling more confident about their parenting, tuning in to their babies’ cues, and enjoying the emerging personalities of their babies. It highlights the potential of art therapy to support parental wellbeing and parent-infant attachment relationships.

Adult attachment in couples facing stage IV lung cancer: associations with patient quality-of-life outcomes and sense of life completion

Abstract Background: Adult attachment insecurity is associated with poor psychosocial and cancer-related symptom outcomes in patients with cancer; however, there is a paucity of research around the role of the spousal caregivers' attachment in patient quality of life (QOL) at the end of life (EOL). Attachment styles may be particularly relevant for couples coping with prolonged metastatic disease, where the threat of death or disease progression is highly salient. Methods: We conducted secondary analyses on a sample of patients with stage IV non–small cell lung cancer and their spouses. Participants separately completed questionnaires of attachment style (ECR-S), relationship closeness (PAIR), illness-related communication (holding back one's fear of death or disease progression), and cancer-related distress (IES). Patients additionally completed questionnaires on sense of life completion and QOL at EOL (QUAL-E Completion Subscale and Overall QOL Item) and symptom burden (MDASI-LC). Results: For patients, greater attachment avoidance was associated with lower sense of life completion (r = −0.31, P = .009) and lower overall QOL (r = −0.35, P = .003). Greater patient attachment anxiety was also associated with a lower sense of life completion (r = −0.26, P = .034). Greater caregiver attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety were associated with patient reports of lower overall QOL (r = −0.38, P = .001, r = −0.36, P = .002, respectively). In addition, greater caregiver attachment anxiety was associated with greater patient symptom burden (r = 0.24, P = .048) controlling for patient's own attachment anxiety. For both patients and caregivers, greater attachment anxiety was associated with more “holding back” from communicating their fear of death or disease progression with their spouse (r = 0.25, P = .036; r = 0.31, P = .011, respectively). Dyadic analyses revealed a positive association within the couple for attachment avoidance (r = 0.41, P &lt; .01) and anxiety (r = 0.31, P &lt; .01). Conclusion: Both spousal caregiver and patient attachment styles are highly relevant to illness communication patterns and patient QOL outcomes.

Relationship of Parental Attachment, Support, and Acceptance as LGBTQIA+

Relationship of Parental Attachment, Support, and Acceptance as LGBTQIA+

TINJAUAN FIKIH MUNAKAHAT TERHADAP BERITA PERNIKAHAN DUA WANITA KEMBAR DENGAN SEORANG LAKI-LAKI DI TRIBUNJABAR.ID

Marriage is an attachment relationship between a man and the woman he marries based on sacred and noble Islamic values. Marriage must obey and pay attention to the laws and regulations contained in fiqh munkahat to prevent wrong and invalid marriages. The wedding incident reported by Tribunjabar.id on July 18 2022 is one of the problems of marriage that violates rules and laws. And it is not valid from the perspective of munakahat fiqh studies. This article aims to explain marriage in an Islamic perspective and discuss the law of marriage between a man and two twin girls as quoted by Tribunjabar.id using the perspective of munakahat fiqh studies. The method in writing this article uses descriptive qualitative research. The results of the analysis concluded that every marriage procession must be in accordance with established Islamic law and it is a bad behavior for a man to marry two women who are siblings at the same time based on strong arguments.

Post-traumatic-stress in the context of childhood maltreatment: pathways from attachment through mentalizing during the transition to parenthood.

This study aimed to clarify the role of mentalizing in pathways from attachment to Post Traumatic Stress Symptoms (PTSS) in survivors of childhood maltreatment (CM). We focused on the transition to parenting, a critical period for reworking parenting representations to reduce intergenerational maltreatment cycles. Study participants included 100 pregnant CM survivors. We assessed PTSS with the SCID and attachment and mentalizing with the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI), which was rated for Attachment and Reflective Functioning (RF). Regarding Re-experiencing trauma symptoms, the results of the path analysis were consistent with mediation. CM survivors' mentalizing about their early relationships with their parents (RF-Other) directly impacted Re-experiencing trauma symptoms, and attachment had an effect on Re-experiencing trauma symptoms through mentalizing (RF-Other). Regarding Arousal/Reactivity symptoms, the results of the pathways analysis were consistent with partial mediation by mentalizing about early relationships with parents (RF-Other). In addition to the pathway from attachment via mentalizing (RF-Other) to Arousal/Reactivity, the pathway between attachment and Arousal/Reactivity also remained significant. This study provides new evidence of a mentalizing and attachment model of PTSS in CM survivors. The findings indicate that increased mentalizing about early relationships with parents is an important process associated with lower PTSS. Finally, we discuss the implications of developing interventions for CM survivors to reduce PTSS. Scaffolding the development of mentalizing regarding attachment relationships in which CM occurred may help CM survivors reduce the intrusion of traumatic memories and decrease trauma-related arousal and reactivity symptoms. Interventions to help CM survivors mentalize regarding parents and attachment relationships in which trauma occurred may be particularly important during the transition to parenting when activation of representations of parenting can trigger PTSS.

Association between childhood maltreatment and attachment disorganization in young adulthood: The protective role of early mother-child interactions

BackgroundIndividuals who experience chronic relational trauma within the parent-child relationship are at risk of developing disorganized representations of attachment relationships in the form of Hostile-Helpless (HH) states of mind. While this association is well recognized theoretically, few studies to date have empirically tested predictors of HH states of mind. ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to examine whether retrospective self-reports of maltreatment and the quality of mother-child affective communication assessed in childhood predict HH states of mind in young adulthood. MethodsThe sample was composed of 66 young adults from a low-income community sample, who had been taking part in a longitudinal project since they were preschoolers. ResultsResults indicate that childhood maltreatment experiences significantly predict HH states of mind and that the quality of mother-child affective communication serves a protective role in the association between childhood maltreatment severity and adult attachment disorganization. ConclusionThis study is one of the first to prospectively examine how the quality of mother-child affective communication in childhood relates to attachment disorganization in young adulthood. Our results highlight the importance of providing support to families in which the child is at risk of experiencing relational trauma, with a particular focus on improving the quality of parent-child interactions.

Therapists' oxytocin response mediates the association between patients' negative emotions and psychotherapy outcomes

BackgroundExisting literature suggests that patients' experiences of emotions, especially negative emotions, predict outcomes in psychotherapies for major depressive disorder. However, the specific mechanisms underlying this effect remain unclear. Based on studies pointing to the role of oxytocin (OT) in attachment relationships, we proposed and tested a mediation model where the therapists' hormonal responses, as represented by increases in their OT levels, mediates the association between negative emotions and symptomatic change. MethodOT saliva samples (pre- and post-session, N = 435) were collected on a fixed schedule over 16 sessions from the therapists of 62 patients receiving psychotherapy for major depression. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression was administered to the patients before the sessions, and the patients reported their in-session emotions after the sessions. ResultsThe findings support the proposed within-person mediation model: (a) higher levels of negative emotions in patients predicted greater increases in therapist OT levels pre- to post-session throughout treatment; (b) greater OT levels in therapists, in turn, predicted reduction in patients' depressive symptoms on the subsequent assessment; and (c) the therapists' OT levels significantly mediated the association between patients' negative emotions and reduction in their depressive symptoms. LimitationsThis design precluded establishing a time sequence between patients' negative emotions and therapists' OT; thus, causality could not be inferred. ConclusionThese findings point to a possible biological mechanism underlying the effects of patients' experiences of negative emotions on treatment outcomes. The findings suggest that therapists' OT responses could potentially serve as a biomarker of an effective therapeutic processes.

Destination and Sport Event: Image, Attachment and Loyalty Relationship

The objective of this study is to evaluate how Psychological Continuum Model (PCM) may be used to foster image, attachment, and loyalty to a sporting event destination. This study was undertaken in conjunction with the MotoGP race at the Mandalika International Circuit in Lombok, Indonesia. A random sample of events was chosen to test the suggested model's validity. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling was used in this study to examine 367 questionnaires that Indonesian respondents filled out on the spot. Using the PCM framework, this study was able to find that event image can increase event attachment, but not destination loyalty based on our findings. Individuals are more likely to have experiences related to events and destinations when the psychological link between people and those events or destinations grows. Event-related variables, rather than destination-related variables, entice travelers since they are more easily influenced by the event.

Maladaptive Attachment and Emotional Intelligence: A Comparative Study Between Married and Unmarried Group

The purpose of the study was to find out the Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Depression. The study was conducted on the sample of 90 people aged between 18-40 years. The sample included 45 Married Individuals and 45 Unmarried Individuals. The sampling method that was used was Purposive sampling. The following study attempts to show the relationship of Emotional Intelligence and Maladaptive Attachment. The emotional intelligence is defined in terms of self- control, well-being, sociability, Emotionality. Emotional Intelligence (EI) includes the capacity to known and manages emotions of one’s own self and also to deal effectively with others. Emotions significantly influence the relationship that is present between people. Maladaptive behaviors targeted in ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) can include extreme tantrums, excessive and interfering self-stimulating behaviors, feeding limitations, aggression, self injury, elopement (running away) and sleep interfering behaviors. Hence, it was found that there exists both negative and positive correlation between and within both the groups married and unmarried.

Adolescent difficulties during parental deployment and anxiety: A focus on measurement and family processes

AbstractApproximately 60% of deployed service members leave behind immediate family members, and although military families tend to be adaptive and resilient, evidence suggests that deployments are challenging and difficulties can arise during transitions and family separation, especially for adolescents. Grounded in the family attachment network model and the ABC‐X model of family stress, the current study utilized a sample of 204 military families with an active‐duty father, civilian mother and adolescent and examined parents' perceptions of adolescents' difficulties during deployment in relation to all three family members' perceptions of the adolescents' mental health (i.e., anxiety symptoms) following deployment. First, analyses of measurement invariance indicated that service members and civilian parents were generally reporting on the same underlying construct of their adolescents' difficulties during parental deployment. Next, a structural equation model demonstrated considerable overlap in service member and civilian parent reports of their adolescents' difficulties during a parental deployment (r = 0.47). Finally, both parents' perceptions of adolescent difficulties during parental deployment were related to their own perceptions of the adolescent's current anxiety but not to the adolescents' reports of their own anxiety symptoms or to the other parent's report of the adolescents' anxiety symptoms. Findings provide support for utilizing these theories in combination, such that disruptions to the family system, and the attachment relationships within that system, in one stage of the deployment cycle, may imply that there are implications for individual‐level functioning, namely, anxiety, in the next stage of the deployment cycle. Findings also underscore the importance of examining our measurement tools and collecting data from multiple family members to understand family processes.

The Relation Between Attachment and Identity: Focusing on Attachment Representations, In-Depth Exploration, and Meaning Making

ABSTRACT Secure attachment relationships with important others (one type of emotional bond) can lead to more adaptive identity formation. We studied the relation of attachment representations with meaning-making and in-depth exploration, two factors contributing to identity formation. Meaning-making is a process of understanding identity from past events, while in-depth exploration is a process of deeply considering identity issues. Our participants were Japanese university students (N = 100; male = 50%; Mage = 20.91; SD = 1.35). We measured attachment representations, positive and negative meaning-making, and in-depth exploration using interviews and questionnaires. The results revealed that secure attachment representations related to positive meaning-making but did not relate to negative meaning-making or in-depth exploration. Overall, this study highlights that individuals with secure representations found a positive meaning in their identity when narrating their past events.

Dogs showed lower parasympathetic activity during mutual gazing while owners did not

The affiliative relationship between humans and dogs is compared to a mother–infant attachment relationship. We hypothesized that dog’s attachment behavior in negative emotional state aroused the owner’s attention toward the dog, that is, reduced parasympathetic activity. We measured heart rate variability in both dogs and humans during the Strange Situation Test to examine whether the owners' parasympathetic activity was decreased by being gazed at by their dogs. Our results in a short-term of 6 s before and after the moment the dog gazed at the human face indicated that dogs’ parasympathetic activity was lower when the dogs were gazing at their owners than when it was gazing at unfamiliar persons. Dog’s autonomic activity was also lower when the dogs were living with their owners for a longer period. However, we could not determine whether gaze from the dog affected the autonomic activity in humans as attachment behavior.

How effectively can nurture groups be used in improving outcomes for young children with emotional, behavioural and social difficulties in primary schools?

Emotional, social, behavioral, and mental health disorders in young children are increasingly prevalent and may have long-term effects, persisting from preschool into primary school (Carroll &amp;amp; Hurry, 2018). Such challenges can significantly impact children's ability to adapt to the classroom and access learning opportunities. To address these challenges, Boxall (2002) developed the concept of nurture groups, where a small group of students is removed from their regular classes for a limited period during the school year to model positive attachment relationships, develop emotional literacy, and provide opportunities for social learning while maintaining access to education (Loinaz, 2015). This literature review aims to explore the effectiveness of nurture groups in improving outcomes for young children with emotional, behavioral, and social difficulties in primary schools. The study reviews existing literature, examining the positive effects of nurture groups on children's well-being, while also critiquing current research. The results suggest that children with a broad spectrum of social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties may benefit from nurture groups, thereby making a strong case for creating nurturing schools. However, one potential concern is that some students who thrive in nurturing schools may struggle when they return to mainstream classes. Therefore, further comparable studies on a larger scale are required.

A deeper look at the association between childhood maltreatment and reflective functioning

ABSTRACT Childhood maltreatment is theorized as impeding the development of reflective functioning (RF; ability to perceive and interpret oneself and others in terms of mental states). However, previous research typically failed to support this association or yielded small sized and mixed associations. This study aims to provide a deeper look at the association between childhood maltreatment and RF by characterizing two non-mentalizing categories. One-hundred-and-sixteen pregnant women (mean age = 27.62, SD = 4.52) from the community (48.3% with a university degree, 96.5% in a relationship with the other parent) retrospectively reported on childhood abuse and neglect using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. They also participated in the Adult Attachment Interview subsequently coded using the Reflective Functioning Scale. Participants with poor to low RF were allocated to one of two groups (disavowal-distancing or distorted-inconsistent) using indicators provided in the RF Scale. No association was found between childhood maltreatment and overall RF when controlling for education level. A multinomial logistic regression revealed that childhood maltreatment was strongly predictive of a disrupted, over-analytical and inconsistent reflection about mental states but not of a tendency to discourse little about mental states. This tendency was rather only predicted by education level. Findings suggest that childhood maltreatment would lead to specific impairments in RF and that not considering how individuals fail to mentalize about attachment relationships may mask strong associations between RF and its determinants and correlates, including childhood maltreatment.