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PubMed2002

Attachment behaviors in mothers of premature infants: a descriptive study in Thai mothers.

Prematurity and the associated maternal-infant separation after birth can affect the attachment process. The role of nurses in facilitating the process of attachment should be based on an understanding of these behaviors. This descriptive study explored the attachment behaviors demonstrated by mothers during their first visit with their premature infant in the neonatal care unit. The results revealed that all mothers demonstrated most attachment behaviors (ie, inspection, facial expression, touching, verbal expression, and eye-to-eye contact) except holding during their first visit. However, some mothers spent little time with their infant. The findings suggest that nurses should encourage mothers to interact with their infants in order to enhance maternal-infant attachment.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The similarity of siblings' attachments to their mother.

Do siblings develop similar attachment relationships with their mother? Attachment theory suggests that brothers and sisters growing up in the same family are likely to relate in similar ways to their parents, at least when parental attachment representations and interactive styles remain stable across time. In the current study, sibling attachment data from three research groups (from Pennsylvania State University, Leiden University, and the University of Western Ontario) have been pooled to assemble a sufficiently large sample of observations (N = 138 sibling pairs) for a detailed comparison of sibling attachment relationships. Spacing between the births, differences in maternal sensitivity, and gender of siblings were examined as possible sources of concordance of nonconcordance. Attachment security (including disorganized attachment) of each sibling was assessed with the Strange Situation procedure between 12 and 14 months after birth. Maternal sensitivity was observed with the same rating scale in a laboratory play session in one of the studies and in home observations in the others. Sibling relationships were found to be significantly concordant when classified as secure/nonsecure (62% concordance, p < .01, 1-tailed, intraclass correlation = .23) but not when further subcategorized. Maternal insensitivity to both siblings (shared environment) was associated with concordance of sibling nonsecurity. Siblings of the same gender were more likely to form concordant relationships with their mother (68%; p < .01, 1-tailed, intraclass correlation = .37) than those of opposite gender. Same-sex sibling concordance was comparable to the concordance found for monozygotic twins in earlier studies. Genetic factors may, therefore, play a relatively small role in the development of attachment.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Early experiences and attachment relationships of Greek infants raised in residential group care.

BACKGROUND: The attachment relationships of infants reared in residential group care from birth, and links between attachment quality and psychosocial development and caregiver sensitivity were studied, with 86 infants reared in group care and 41 infants reared in their own two-parent families who attended day-care centres. METHODS: Attachment, cognitive development, temperament, and observed social behaviour of the two groups were studied, as was the quality of care by caregivers and mothers. RESULTS: Sixty-six per cent of infants reared in residential group care showed disorganised attachment to their caregivers, compared with 25% of control infants; 24% of group care infants were securely attached, compared with 41% of control infants. The two groups differed in cognitive development, in temperament and observed social behaviour. Within the residential group care babies, those that were securely attached were observed to express more frequent positive affect and social behaviour, and to initiate more frequent interaction with their caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: Residential care affected all aspects of the infants' development and was linked to a high rate of disorganised attachment.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2002

Balancing the family and the collective in raising children: why communal sleeping in kibbutzim was predestined to end.

This article integrates research data about attachment in kibbutz-raised children with a review of the socio-historical processes that shaped the interrelations between the kibbutz family and the collective and influenced childrearing practices. It uses systems theory to evaluate the changing practices of kibbutz childrearing with particular focus on communal sleeping for infants and children away from their parents, and its impact on the formation of attachment relations to parents and caregivers, transmission of attachment across generations, and later school competence. It argues that artificial childrearing practices such as communal sleeping for infants and children created a unique and unprecedented "social experiment in nature," which, from the perspective of attachment theory, was predestined to be discontinued because it betrayed the essential attachment needs of most parents and children.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

The effect of proxy voice intervention on couple softening in the context of enactments.

In this study we evaluated the effectiveness of proxy voice (therapist acting as client's "voice") intervention, embedded within couple enactments, on client-perceived softening. The primary research question was whether use of proxy voice would be more likely to bring about softening, or if its use was counterintuitive to enactment conceptualization and would elicit struggle behavior (e.g., withdrawal or negativity). Results indicate that proxy voice has a significant, positive association with softening and is inversely related to withdrawal or negativity. Preliminary findings suggest that proxy voice intervention embedded within a fluid, carefully delineated, and discriminating model of enactments effectively facilitates essential elements of couple interaction (expression of primary affect and articulation of self-concept and attachment threats) while promoting self-reliant couple interaction and increased softening.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Childhood attachment, childhood sexual abuse, and onset of masturbation among adult sexual offenders.

Written autobiographies of 48 incarcerated adult male sexual offenders (22 rapists, 13 intrafamilial child molesters, and 13 extrafamilial child molesters) were used to generate retrospective self-report measures of their childhood maternal and paternal attachment, childhood sexual abuse experiences, and onset of masturbation. Contrary to expectation, the offenders as a combined group more often reported secure than they did insecure childhood maternal and paternal attachment. There were no differences between the three offender subgroups with respect to maternal attachment; however the rapists and the intrafamilial child molesters were more likely to report insecure paternal attachment than were the extrafamilial child molesters. There were no differences between these offender subgroups in the frequency with which childhood sexual abuse was reported. However, offenders with insecure paternal attachment were more likely to report having been sexually abused than were those with secure paternal attachment. Sexually abused offenders in turn reported earlier onset of masturbation than did those who were not sexually abused. These results are consistent with contemporary attachment models linking insecure childhood attachment to childhood sexual abuse, and with traditional conditioning models linking childhood sexual abuse, early masturbation, and sexual offending.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Humans and pets and attachment.

The bond between human and pet depends on their commonality as animals and their mutual need for attachment. Under abnormal circumstances of developmental frustration a human may displace an overdetermined need for attachment to the pet. The attachment relationship is pathological because of its defensive purpose, and its interruption can create enduring psychiatric reactions. The paper details the developmental determinants for this interaction.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

The effects of mortality salience on relationship strivings and beliefs: the moderating role of attachment style.

This series of studies examined mortality salience effects on relationship strivings, while exploring the moderating role of attachment style. In the three studies, Israeli university students completed an attachment style scale, were assigned to a mortality salience or neutral condition, and then completed scales tapping specific relationship strivings and beliefs. Study 1 (N = 104) examined participants' willingness to initiate social interactions with a hypothetical same-sex person; Study 2 (N = 100) examined appraisals of interpersonal competence; and Study 3 (N = 108) examined reports of rejection sensitivity. Findings revealed that mortality salience led to more willingness to initiate social interactions, lower rejection sensitivity and more positive appraisals of interpersonal competence than a control condition. These mortality salience effects were found mainly among persons who scored low on attachment anxiety or attachment avoidance. Findings were discussed in light of the terror management function of close relationships.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Human development in the context of aging and chronic illness: the role of attachment in Alzheimer's disease and stroke.

Does chronic illness in older people provide potentials for human development? To date, this question has not been adequately addressed by dynamic theorists of human development. In this article, two illness trajectories, Alzheimer's disease and stroke, are examined to illustrate emerging changes in human development over each course of illness and the increasing importance of attachment behavior among ill elders and their family members. It is argued that the phenomenon of attachment links ailing older people to their environment, and that attachment is vital if human development is to continue.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

A growth curve analysis of stress and adolescent drug use.

The purpose of this paper is to describe and examine one pathway by which adolescent drug use increases during early and mid-adolescence. It draws upon recent research on adolescent stress, drug use, and family processes to describe an important stage of the life course. A chief principle underlying the proposed pathway is that the cumulative effect of stressful life experiences over time can lead to a steeper escalation of drug use in adolescence. Furthermore, based on previous stress research, we propose that this effect may be moderated by factors such as sex, income, family attachment, self-esteem, and mastery. Using 4 years of panel data from the Family Health Study (n = 651 adolescents ages 11-14 during Year 1), we estimate a hierarchical growth curve model that examines the time-varying effects of stressful life events and peer relations on drug use. The results indicate that experiencing a high number of life events over time is related to a significant "growth" of drug use, even after controlling for "growth" due to age or peer relations. In addition, this relationship is moderated by family attachment; high levels of attachment serve to diminish this growth significantly.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[Attachment theory: a biological basis for the patient-physician relation?].

Attachment theory is an evolutionary sociobiological theory of development which postulates that the propensity to make emotional bonds to a differentiated and preferred person, conceived as stronger and/or wiser, is a basic component of human nature, distinct from feeding and sexuality. Attachment behavior is present in germinal form in the neonate and continues to be present "from the cradle to the grave". When faced with loss, threat, distress or illness we tend to seek out an attachment figure from which we can obtain protection. Attachment theory has implications for the patient-doctor relationship. The doctor who is responsive to the patient's verbal and nonverbal attachment signals may be seen as a supplementary attachment figure. Doctors are powerful social figures, expected to manifest appropriate empathic behavior upon encountering the biologically grounded need for attention and listening.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Maternal expressed emotion related to attachment disorganization in early childhood: a preliminary report.

Using a longitudinal sample of children, this study examined the relation between maternal Expressed Emotion (EE) and mother-child attachment disorganization at age 6 years. A nonclinical sample of 33 children (at ages 12 months and 18 months) from Berlin, Germany participated with their mothers in Ainsworth's Strange Situation. Thirty-two children were again observed with their mothers at age 6 years in a standard laboratory attachment observation. At the time of the 6-year assessment, maternal EE was assessed based on a Five-Minute Speech Sample. Mothers also completed the Life Events Questionnaire, a measure of family stress, and the Present State Examination, a measure of maternal depression. Maternal Expressed Emotion was significantly linked to mother-child attachment security at age 6 years. Further analyses revealed that High EE was most closely linked to the disorganized attachment pattern at age 6 years, an at-risk attachment pattern that has been associated with intrusive and hostile maternal behavior. The relationship was upheld when other relevant variables, including infant attachment disorganization and a measure of perceived family stress, were simultaneously considered. The study provides independent validation of Expressed Emotion as a measure of relationship quality in early childhood. It also provides a basis for the further investigation of the nature of the relation between maternal Expressed Emotion and attachment disorganization.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Clinical relevance of attachment theory for the psychotherapy of small children and their parents].

Since the beginning of the 1990s, the relevance of the attachment theory has gained increasing significance for psychotherapeutic practice. Due to the lack of empirical proof, the only feasible approach, for the time being, are conceptional deliberations, which, however, offer useful ideas for the practical work. Based on an case record obtained from the psychotherapeutic treatment of a 4-month-old suckling and his parents, this article attempts to discuss the incorporation of attachment-theoretical concepts into infant-parent psychotherapy. Infant-parent psychotherapy constitutes a treatment method which, on the initiative of Mechthild Papousek, founder of the "Munich interdisciplinary intervention Program", has enjoyed larger-scale dissemination and deals with regulatory disturbances in infancy. Irrespective of core symptoms and their etiology, regulatory disturbances often lead to impaired mother-child interactions and formation of secure attachment organization of the child. The observation of essential, attachment-relevant contents, such es, for instance, the child's attachment and exploratory behavior an the maternal sensitivity to signals emanating from the child gives rise to novel viewpoints regarding therapeutic interventions.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

A review of attachment formation and disorder of handicapped children.

Research pertaining to attachment formation of handicapped children against a backdrop overview of the general attachment literature was examined. Attachment development and disorder of handicapped populations was reviewed categorically by handicap and by the procedures used to study attachment and analogous behavior with populations of handicapped children. In general, evidence to date suggests that attachment between young handicapped children and their mothers or caretakers may be delayed, dulled, or even absent. Some critical methodological issues were discussed, and implications of the study of attachment for developing theory, providing services, and understanding child abuse were delineated.

Child Abuse↗
PubMed2007

Stress and coping in hospice nursing staff. The impact of attachment styles.

Previous research suggests that the attachment style developed during childhood informs adult attachment styles, which in turn affects adult relationships and responses to stress. This study considers the sources of stress in hospice nurses and addresses the potential impact of their attachment styles on stress and coping experiences. Adult attachment style, stress and coping were measured in 84 nurses recruited from five hospices. The results supported previous research regarding the most common sources of stress in this nursing group. The study found partial support for the hypothesis that nurses with insecure attachment styles experience more stress than securely attached nurses. Hospice nurses with a fearful or dismissing attachment style were found to be less likely to seek emotional social support as a means of coping with stress than hospice nurses with a secure or preoccupied attachment style. Supervision, support and career-long training for nurses in hospices are recommended. Further research is needed to clarify the involvement of attachment style in hospice nurse stress and coping experiences.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2006

The influence of attachment and emotional support in end-stage cancer.

The impact of attachment style and emotional support on negative affect in 67 end-stage cancer patients was examined via self-report inventory. Path analysis revealed high levels of both attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance were associated with lower levels of emotional support which, in turn, had a major adverse influence on patients' negative affect. In addition, attachment anxiety was also directly associated with distress. The discussion emphasises the importance of attachment theory and emotional support within the context of terminal cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Attachment and emotional understanding in preschool children.

This study was designed to elucidate the association between attachment and emotional understanding in preschool children. Forty children between the ages of 2.5 and 6 years and their mothers participated in the study. Mothers completed the Attachment Q-set, and children took part at their preschools in both an affective perspective-taking task and a series of interviews concerning naturally occurring incidents of emotions. Overall, age and attachment security predicted a child's aggregate score on the emotional understanding tasks. However, when the score was separated by the valence of the emotion, attachment security and age predicted a child's score for only those emotions with a negative valence (e.g., sadness) and not for those emotions with a positive valence (e.g., happiness). Thus, a secure attachment relationship seems to be important in fostering a child's understanding of emotion, primarily negative emotions.

Adult↗