Child Attachment Research Articles

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.

Perinatal Predictors and Mediators of Attachment Patterns in Preschool Children: Exploration of Children's Contributions in Interactions with Mothers.

Insecure and disorganized attachment patterns in children are linked to poor health outcomes over the lifespan. Attachment patterns may be predicted by variables that influence the quality of children's interactions with their primary caregivers/parents (usually mothers) such as prenatal and postnatal exposures and the children's own behaviours in interactions. The purposes of this exploratory study were to examine: (1) prenatal predictors of children's attachment patterns, and (2) postnatal mediators and moderators of associations between prenatal predictors and children's attachment patterns, with adjustment for relevant covariates. Mother-child dyads (n = 214) from the longitudinal Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) cohort were studied using valid and reliable measures. Hayes' mediation analysis was employed to determine direct and indirect effects. Mothers' prenatal cortisol levels directly predicted disorganized (versus organized) child attachment in unadjusted models. Children's passivity (in adjusted models) and compulsivity (in unadjusted and adjusted models) in parent-child interactions mediated the pathway between mothers' prenatal cortisol levels and children's disorganized attachment patterns. Serial mediation analyses revealed that mothers' cortisol levels predicted their children's cortisol levels, which predicted children's compulsivity, and, ultimately, disorganized attachment in both unadjusted and adjusted models. No predictors were correlated with children's insecure (versus secure) attachment. This exploratory research suggests that prenatal exposure to mothers' cortisol levels and children's behavioural contributions to parent-child interaction quality should be considered in the genesis of children's attachment patterns, especially disorganization. Interventions focused on parent-child interactions could also focus on addressing children's behavioral contributions.

The Association Between Parent–Child Attachment and Academic Adjustment: A Multilevel Meta-Analysis

The Association Between Parent–Child Attachment and Academic Adjustment: A Multilevel Meta-Analysis

Growing up in the ‘Ghetto’: children's ambiguous attachment in racialised communities in Denmark

ABSTRACT This article examines the community attachments of children living in stigmatised non-profit housing estates in Denmark. Drawing on childhood studies’ emphasis on children's agency, the analysis explores how children shape their place attachments within urban landscapes. Methods include ethnographic fieldwork in two neighbourhoods, walk-along interviews and photo-elicitation. The findings reveal how architectural, material, and symbolic aspects of a neighbourhood may afford children's pluri-ethnic social relations and attachment practices to a local community, based on acts of care in everyday interactions. While these practices are common, the analysis also explores how the territorial stigma racialises children's social spaces and catalyses differentiations, both internally and beyond their neighbourhood. Thus, the study deepens our understanding of children's ambiguous perceptions of and reactions to growing up in stigmatised communities.

Classification et représentations d'attachement et comportements intériorisés et extériorisés des enfants de la protection de l'enfance

IntroductionChildren who have experienced potentially traumatic situations within their first attachment relationships (e.g., abuse, neglect) are more at risk of presenting attachment insecurity and disorganization as well as insecure attachment representations. These children would also be more at risk of developing internalized (e.g., anxiety, depression) and externalized behaviors (e.g., aggressivity, opposition). ObjectivesThe study aims to provide a portrait of attachment classification and representations and internalized and externalized behaviors in children aged 7 to 12 from three groups: 35 maltreated children, 42 children from a clinical group, and 39 children from a normative group. The study also aims to evaluate associations between attachment and internalized and externalized behaviors and to detect predictors of internalized and externalized behaviors amongst attachment-related variables. MethodParticipants took part in The Attachment Story Completion Task (ASCT) and a semi-structured interview, the Child Attachment Interview (CAI). Caregivers completed the Child behaviour Checklist to assess internalized and externalized behaviors. ResultsResults show lower levels of attachment security as well as higher levels of insecure attachment representations and internalized and externalized behaviors in maltreated children. Only disorganized attachment was found to be associated with internalized and externalized behaviors. The ASCT could not differentiate the groups and showed little association with internalized and externalized behaviors. ConclusionDisorganized attachment is mainly associated with maltreatment and internalized and externalized behaviors, contrary to ASCT variables, thus generating questions regarding this tool's suitability for school-aged children.

Parental expressions of love in Chinese American immigrant families: Implications for children's attachment security.

Harlow's seminal work on the nature of attachment focused on the importance of warm, responsive, and loving relationships in children's healthy development. While the need for love and care is arguably universal, the ways in which these emotions are expressed can vary across cultural contexts. We examined how Chinese American parents' expressions of love were associated with children's attachment security. A total of 110 Chinese American immigrant parent-child dyads (children 7-11 years old, 49% girls) participated in 3-min conversations in which parents were instructed to communicate love and care. Proposition-level analyses in speech (total 8825 propositions) identified three types of affection: training (guan and chiao shun); relational affection (qin); and validation (acceptance and encouragement of child's own expression of emotion, thoughts, and behaviors). Higher training was observed in parents with lower American orientation and lower income. Higher relational affection was observed in parents with lower income. Higher validation was observed in parents with higher income. Using path analyses, training and validation were found to be positively associated with children's attachment security beyond parenting styles. Effects of parents' relational affection were moderated by children's American orientation. Results demonstrate how immigrant parents draw on multiple cultural scripts to express love and care. These findings expand traditional concepts of parental love in immigrant families and illustrate how bicultural expressions of love can shape attachment security in middle childhood. A video abstract of this article can be viewed at https://youtu.be/HqUfIDxkFsE RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Analyses of parent-child discussions identified three parental affection styles (i.e., training, relational affection, and validation) as expressions of love and care in Chinese American immigrant families. Training and validation were positively associated withchildren's attachment security. Relational affection was associated with lowerattachment security for children with higher American cultural orientation, suggesting the effects of parent-child expressions of love are shaped by acculturation.

Helping Institutionalised Children through a Trusting Relationship-Findings from a One-Year Psychosocial Intervention Programme.

Children growing up in institutions lack a stable relationship-essential for development. A significant proportion of them have disorganised attachment, which is associated with negative outcomes. Therefore, interventions aimed at improving attachment security are needed. We conducted a case series study (involving five participants aged 8-11 years) in a newly established psychosocial rehabilitation daycare centre to describe the changes in attachment security and mental health of institutionalised children after one year of attendance. The intervention consisted of individualised care focusing on staff building a trusting relationship with participants using the principles of Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI). Measures such as the Child Attachment Interview, SDQ, CBCL6/18, TRF6/18, and clinical interviews were used to follow change. The descriptive data of five participants are presented. All five children improved in mental health, and for two participants, organisation of attachment changed. Three children experienced relational ruptures. The findings suggest that psychosocial interventions that focus on building trusting relationships may be beneficial in institutionalised children. For these children, given their life history, it can be damaging to experience repeated breakdowns. Thus, the practical implication is that any new relationship for them with an adult should be established after an assessment of whether the relationship can be sustained.

"It Seems Much More Enjoyable Now": Parental Perception of Relational Change from Participating in Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT).

This qualitative study aims to examine parental experiences of feasibility and relational changes from participating in the Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT) intervention. Thirteen parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (mean age 3.89 years) participated in semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was performed, inspired by an abductive approach informed by the theories of the attachment system, the caregiving system and mentalisation. Three overarching themes were identified: the struggle of fitting PACT into everyday life, the fruit of relational connection and the cascading relational effects of PACT. Parents were challenged regarding finding time for the intervention but adapted PACT to their individual needs and possibilities. All parents experienced relational improvement, and a cycle of positive relational change through PACT was identified. This study has several clinical implications. Therapists and clinics offering PACT interventions should encourage and support parents in their individual journey of implementing PACT into their everyday lives. Some of the parents described improvements in parental mentalisation, child attachment and mutual enjoyment in the parent-child relationship. Children with autism could benefit from parents increasing their sensitivity when caregiving, and clinicians may through interventions such as PACT facilitate this development.

Trauma-related symptoms in adolescents: the differential roles of sexual abuse and mentalizing.

Major gaps remain in our knowledge regarding childhood sexual abuse (CSA) related symptoms in adolescent psychiatric inpatients, as well as potential resilience factors like mentalizing. CSA is a risk factor for the early emergence of borderline personality features, posttraumatic stress, and sexual concerns. Mentalizing, which involves the capacity to understand our reactions and that of others in psychological terms, is a resilience factor for self and interpersonal functioning. The aim of this study was to address knowledge gaps by examining the contributions of CSA and mentalizing in a latent factor composed of borderline personality features, posttraumatic stress, and sexual concerns in a sample of adolescent psychiatric inpatients. We hypothesized that CSA and mentalizing would independently explain the variance in this latent factor. Participants were 273 adolescents aged 12-17 recruited from an adolescent inpatient psychiatric clinic. They completed the Reflective Function Questionnaire for Youth (RFQ-Y), the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC), and the Borderline Personality Features Scale for Children (BPFS-C). CSA was assessed using the Child Attachment Interview (CAI), the Computerized Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (C-DISC), as well as the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). 27.5% of adolescent psychiatric inpatients reported CSA. CSA and mentalizing were independently associated with a latent factor consisting of posttraumatic stress, borderline personality features, and sexual concerns. CSA explained 5.0% and RF explained 16.7% of the variance of the latent factor. When we consider both the unique and the shared contribution of CSA and mentalizing, the model explained 23.0% of the variance of this factor. CSA and mentalizing independently explained variance in a latent factor constituted of borderline personality features, posttraumatic stress, and sexual concerns. The direct effect of mentalizing was stronger and mentalizing explained comparatively more variance of trauma-related symptoms in adolescent psychiatric inpatients. The findings are consistent with the theory that mentalizing is an internal resilience factor in adolescent psychiatric inpatients. By implication, clinical interventions focused on promoting the development of mentalizing, such as Mentalization Based Treatment, may palliate mental health difficulties manifested by adolescent psychiatric inpatients including those associated with CSA.

Maternal and paternal sensitivity: Key determinants of child attachment security examined through meta-analysis.

Sensitive caregiving behavior, which involves the ability to notice, interpret, and quickly respond to a child's signals of need and/or interest, is a central determinant of secure child-caregiver attachment. Yet, significant heterogeneity in effect sizes exists across the literature, and sources of heterogeneity have yet to be explained. For all child-caregiver dyads, there was a significant and positive pooled association between caregiver sensitivity and parent-child attachment (r = .25, 95% CI [.22, .28], k = 174, 230 effect sizes, N = 22,914). We also found a positive association between maternal sensitivity and child attachment security (r = .26, 95% CI [.22, .29], k = 159, 202 effect sizes, N = 21,483), which was equivalent in magnitude to paternal sensitivity and child attachment security (r = .21, 95% CI [.14, 27], k = 22, 23 effect sizes, N = 1,626). Maternal sensitivity was also negatively associated with all three classifications of insecure attachment (avoidant: k = 43, r = -.24 [-.34, -.13]; resistant: k = 43, r = -.12 [-.19, -.06]; disorganized: k = 24, r = -.19 [-.27, -.11]). For maternal sensitivity, associations were larger in studies that used the Attachment Q-Sort (vs. the Strange Situation), used the Maternal Behavior Q-Sort (vs. Ainsworth or Emotional Availability Scales), had strong (vs. poor) interrater measurement reliability, had a longer observation of sensitivity, and had less time elapse between assessments. For paternal sensitivity, associations were larger in older (vs. younger) fathers and children. These findings confirm the importance of both maternal and paternal sensitivity for the development of child attachment security and add understanding of the methodological and substantive factors that allow this effect to be observed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Ruhiyah Attachment: Integrating Spirituality into Attachment Theory for Enhanced Child Development

Purpose – This article aims to introduce a new perspective in attachment theory called ruhiyah attachment. Ruhiyah attachment emphasizes the role of caregivers as mediators to connect children spiritually with Allah SWT, proposing this spiritual connection as a potential solution to the mental health crisis among teenagers. Design/methods/approach – This paper employs a literature research methodology. The research involves (1) selecting the topic, (2) searching academic databases for relevant articles and journals, (3) collecting data from primary sources (articles and books on attachment theory) and secondary sources (application and implementation studies), (4) analyzing literature to identify patterns, themes, or differences across ten sources, (5) presenting findings, and (6) conducting a critical assessment of ruhiyah attachment as a new perspective in attachment studies. Findings – The research presents ruhiyah attachment as a new perspective in child attachment studies. It emphasizes that spiritual attachment, facilitated by caregivers as mediators, is crucial for children's development. Ruhiyah attachment extends beyond the mother-child bond to include a spiritual connection with the Creator, potentially addressing mental health crises by fostering a strong spiritual foundation in children. Research implications/limitations – This research broadens the discourse on child attachment studies. The literature review methodology allows a comprehensive examination of various perspectives in attachment research. Ruhiyah attachment offers a new viewpoint that may stimulate future studies. Limitations include the reliance on secondary sources and the need for empirical validation of the proposed perspective. Practical implications – Ruhiyah attachment can enhance early childhood education and care by integrating spirituality into attachment theory. This perspective allows children to develop a direct spiritual connection with Allah SWT through their bond with caregivers, promoting long-term mental and spiritual well-being. It suggests that spiritual strength can help prevent mental health crises and encourage moral development. Originality/value – This research introduces a spiritual dimension to child attachment studies, addressing the mental health crisis by proposing ruhiyah attachment as a novel perspective. Paper type Literature review

Developmental cascades from early childhood attachment security to adolescent level of personality functioning among high-risk youth.

This study examines associations between early childhood attachment security and adolescent personality functioning in a high-risk sample within a developmental psychopathology framework. Data from 2,268 children (1165 male; 1103 female) and caregivers participating in Future of Families and Child Well-Being Study (FFCWS) were used to examine (1) effects of genetic polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) and dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) genes and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on attachment security and emotional and behavioral dysregulation in early childhood and (2) longitudinal associations and transactional relationships among attachment security, dysregulation, negative parenting attitudes and behaviors, social competence, and adolescent personality functioning. Results revealed that ACEs predicted attachment security over and above sex or the genetic risk, and gene × environment interactions did not increment prediction. Results of cascade models showed that greater early childhood attachment security predicted higher adolescent level of personality functioning via pathways through intermediary variables. Limitations and future research directions are discussed.

ADHD Symptoms in Middle Childhood: The Role of Child Attachment and Maternal Emotional Availability in an Inpatient Clinical Sample.

Child ADHD symptoms are highly prevalent in middle childhood, alongside impairment in social functioning. The parent-child relationship has been shown to play an important role; however, studies investigating specific facets of the parent-child relationship in ADHD symptomatology in middle childhood have been neglected. We assumed that higher ADHD symptoms were associated with both (1) lower maternal emotional availability (EA) and (2) lower child attachment security. Moreover, (3) we aimed to explore which specific EA dimensions were associated with ADHD symptoms. In a socio-pediatric clinic in Germany, 71 inpatient mother-child dyads (child age: M = 7.70, SD = 1.06; n = 54 boys) were assessed. Clinical data about child ADHD symptoms (Child Behavior Checklist 6-18 subscale "attention deficit/hyperactivity problems"), maternal EA (free play), and child attachment representation (Attachment Story Completion Task, GEV-B) were analyzed cross-sectionally. Controlling for child oppositional behavior and sex, child ADHD symptoms were associated with overall maternal EA, and more specifically non-hostility, but not with child attachment representation. Our results imply that the role of parent-child interaction quality should be considered in the treatment of ADHD. Bidirectional effects cannot be ruled out.

The future of intergenerational transmission research: A prospective, three-generation approach.

Dr. Dante Cicchetti's pioneering theory and research on developmental psychopathology have been fundamental to the proliferation of research on intergenerational transmission over the last 40 years. In part due to this foundation, much has been learned about continuities and discontinuities in child maltreatment, attachment, parenting, and psychopathology across generations. Looking towards the future, we propose that this field stands to benefit from a prospective, three-generation approach. Specifically, following established prospective, longitudinal cohorts of children over their transition to parenting the next generation will afford the opportunity to investigate the developmental origins of intergenerational transmission. This approach also can address key outstanding questions and methodological limitations in the extant literature related to the confounding of retrospective and prospective measures; examination of mediators and moderators; and investigation of the roles of biology, environment, and their interplay. After considering these advantages, we offer several considerations and recommendations for future research, many of which are broadly applicable to the study of two or more generations. We hope that this discussion will inspire the leveraging of existing prospective cohorts to carry forward Dr. Cicchetti's remarkable contributions, with the ultimate aim to inform the development of preventions and interventions that disrupt deleterious intergenerational cycles.

Child-parent agreement on the SDQ: The role of child-parent attachment and parental feelings.

Children and their parents often provide divergent reports regarding their mental health on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). These discrepancies may impede the diagnostic processes. The present study aimed to explore how a child's attachment to the parent and parental feelings may explain some of the variability between parent's and children's reports on the SDQ. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires from 277 children and their parents (n = 421) who were referred to a public mental health clinic. This information was classified into clinical categories (normal and abnormal) and analyzed using multinomial logistic regression. The agreement rates between children and parents on the normality of children were high in general and across gender and age. Insecure attachment to parents positively and significantly predicted the agreement of child and parent reporting abnormality and disagreement when parents reported normality and children reported abnormality. Parental anger positively and significantly predicted disagreement in reports in which parents reported abnormal anger and children reported normal anger. These findings highlight the importance of assessing informant variability in association with emotional and relationship variables as clinically meaningful information for a clinical diagnosis.

The Longitudinal Mediating Role of Peer Attachment in the Relationship between Affective School Environment and Children's Sense of Community

The purpose of this study was to identify the longitudinal mediating effects of peer attachment on the relationship between psychological school environment and children's sense of community. Data on 1,088 children were obtained from the 10th, 11th, and 13th Panel Study on Korean Children in the 3rd 4th, and 6th grades. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Cronbach's α, Pearson's correlation, a latent growth model, and a multivariate latent growth model. All analyses were conducted in SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 23.0. The principal results were as follows. First, children's peer attachment gradually decreased over time. Moreover, individual differences existed in the initial values and rates of change. Second, the psychological school environment in the 3rd grade positively influenced children's initial peer attachment, which then exerted a positive impact on children's sense of community in the 6th grade. Second, the psychological school environment in the 3rd grade negatively influenced children's rates of change, which also exerted a positive impact on children's sense of community in the 6th grade. Finally, the initial value and rates of change of peer attachment were significant mediating effects of the relationship between the psychological school environment in the 3rd grade and children's sense of community in the 6th grade. The findings highlight the necessity of creating a psychological school environment that develops peer attachment and a sense of community among children.

The Effects of Childhood Maternal Attachment on the Parenting Behavior of Mothers with Preschoolers: The Mediating Effects of Adult Attachment and Marital Satisfaction

The aim of this study was to explore the mediating effects of adult attachment and marital satisfaction on the relationship between childhood maternal attachment and parenting behavior. A total of 372 mothers of preschoolers completed questionnaires on childhood maternal attachment, adult attachment, marital satisfaction, and parenting behavior. Adult attachment was analyzed by distinguishing between attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance. Parenting behavior was categorized into positive and negative behaviors. For the main analyses, Preacher and Hayes’s PROCESS macro program was used to examine serial mediating effects. The results revealed that attachment anxiety mediated the effects of mothers’ childhood attachment experiences on both positive and negative parenting behavior. However, attachment avoidance only mediated the effects on positive parenting behavior. Marital satisfaction mediated the effects of mothers’ childhood attachment experiences on both positive and negative parenting behavior. Notably, the sequential mediating effects of attachment anxiety and marital satisfaction were not significant for either positive or negative parenting behavior. By contrast, the sequential mediating effects of attachment avoidance and marital satisfaction were significant for both positive and negative parenting behavior. These findings elucidate the predictive factors for parenting behavior within a process model framework, providing valuable insights for parental education and counseling aimed at enhancing mothers' parenting practices.