Attachment states of mind and inferred childhood experiences in maltreated and comparison adolescents from low-income families

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 337-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glenn I. Roisman ◽  
Fred A. Rogosch ◽  
Dante Cicchetti ◽  
Ashley M. Groh ◽  
John D. Haltigan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Primary Caregivers ◽  
Adult Attachment Interview ◽  
States Of Mind ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Factor Analytic ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Abuse And Neglect ◽  
State Of Mind ◽  
Low Income Families

AbstractThis paper reports the first large-sample investigation of the maltreatment-related correlates of low-income adolescents’ narratives about their childhood experiences with primary caregivers, as assessed with a modified version of the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) and based on official reports of abuse and neglect (maltreatedn= 214, nonmaltreatedn= 140;Mage = 16.7 years). Drawing on factor-analytic and taxometric evidence indicating that AAI narratives vary along two state of mind (i.e., dismissing and preoccupied) and two inferred childhood experience (i.e., maternal and paternal) dimensions, here we demonstrate that the experience of maltreatment, particularly when chronic, is associated with increased risk for dismissing and preoccupied states of mind and more negative inferred childhood experiences. Although such maltreatment-related associations were generally not specific to any of the four AAI dimensions, the experience of physical and/or sexual abuse was uniquely associated with preoccupied states of mind and negative inferred paternal experiences even after controlling for the other AAI dimensions. More extensive paternal perpetration of maltreatment also was uniquely related to more negative inferred paternal experiences.

Preoccupied but not dismissing attachment states of mind are associated with nonsuicidal self-injury

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 379-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jodi Martin ◽  
Jean-François Bureau ◽  
Marie-France Lafontaine ◽  
Paula Cloutier ◽  
Celia Hsiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Caregivers ◽  
Adult Attachment Interview ◽  
States Of Mind ◽  
Factor Analyses ◽  
Self Injury ◽  
Regulatory Strategy ◽  
Exploratory Factor Analyses ◽  
State Of Mind ◽  
Age And Sex ◽  
Nonsuicidal Self Injury

AbstractIn this investigation the factor structure of the Adult Attachment Interview was studied in a partially at-risk sample of 120 young adults. More specifically, 60 participants had engaged in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI; 53 females, M age = 20.38 years), and 60 were non-self-injuring controls matched by age and sex. Theoretically anticipated differential associations between preoccupied (but not dismissing) states of mind and NSSI were then examined. Exploratory factor analyses identified evidence for two weakly correlated state of mind dimensions (i.e., dismissing and preoccupied) consistently identified in factor analyses of normative-risk samples. As hypothesized, results further showed that preoccupied (but not dismissing) states of mind were associated with NSSI behavior. Findings support existing arguments suggesting that the regulatory strategy adults adopt when discussing attachment-related experiences with primary caregivers, particularly passive, angry, or unresolved discourse patterns, is uniquely correlated with NSSI.

scholarly journals Attachment states of mind among internationally adoptive and foster parents

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 365-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Lee Raby ◽  
Heather A. Yarger ◽  
Teresa Lind ◽  
R. Chris Fraley ◽  
Esther Leerkes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Foster Parents ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Adoptive Parents ◽  
Adult Attachment Interview ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
States Of Mind ◽  
Protective Services ◽  
State Of Mind ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Taxometric Analyses

AbstractThe first aim of the current study was to examine the latent structure of attachment states of mind as assessed by the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) among three groups of parents of children at risk for insecure attachments: parents who adopted internationally (N= 147), foster parents (N= 300), and parents living in poverty and involved with Child Protective Services (CPS;N= 284). Confirmatory factor analysis indicated the state of mind rating scales loaded on two factors reflecting adults’ preoccupied and dismissing states of mind. Taxometric analyses indicated the variation in adults’ preoccupied states of mind was more consistent with a dimensional than a categorical model, whereas results for dismissing states of mind were indeterminate. The second aim was to examine the degree to which the attachment states of mind of internationally adoptive and foster parents differ from those of poverty/CPS-referred parents and low-risk parents. After controlling for parental age, sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, (a) internationally adoptive parents had lower scores on the dismissing dimension than the sample of community parents described by Haltigan, Leerkes, Supple, and Calkins (2014); (b) foster parents did not differ from community parents on either the dismissing or the preoccupied AAI dimension; and (c) both internationally adoptive and foster parents had lower scores on the preoccupied dimension than poverty/CPS-referred parents. Analyses using the traditional AAI categories provided convergent evidence that (a) internationally adoptive parents were more likely to be classified as having an autonomous state of mind than low-risk North American mothers based on Bakermans-Kranenburg and van IJzendoorn's (2009) meta-analytic estimates, (b) the rates of autonomous states of mind did not differ between foster and low-risk parents, and (c) both internationally adoptive and foster parents were less likely to be classified as having a preoccupied state of mind than poverty/CPS-referred parents.

In search of security: The latent structure of the Adult Attachment Interview revisited

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 589-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine C. Haydon ◽  
Glenn I. Roisman ◽  
Keith B. Burt
Keyword(s):  
Adult Attachment ◽  
Adult Attachment Interview ◽  
States Of Mind ◽  
Behavioral Correlates ◽  
Relevant Evidence ◽  
Early Experiences ◽  
Item Level ◽  
State Of Mind ◽  
Components Analysis ◽  
Q Sort

AbstractBuilding on Roisman, Fraley, and Belsky, who produced evidence for two modestly correlated dimensions (i.e., dismissing and preoccupied states of mind) underlying individual differences in attachment as assessed by the Adult Attachment Interview using the Main and Goldwyn classification system, this report replicates and extends relevant evidence in a large sample of adults (N = 842) who completed the Adult Attachment Interview coded using Kobak's Adult Attachment Interview Q-Sort. Principal components analysis of item-level Q-Sort data yielded two state of mind (dismissing vs. free to evaluate and preoccupied vs. not) and two inferred experience (maternal and paternal) components that were associated with two domains of theoretical significance to attachment theory: interpersonal functioning in a romantic context and symptoms of psychopathology. Results revealed distinctive behavioral correlates of dismissing versus preoccupied states of mind and emphasize the differential predictive significance for developmental adaptation of attachment states of mind versus adults' recollections of their early experiences. Implications for adult attachment methodology and theory are discussed.

Emotional competence and behavior problems: Differences across Preschool Assessment of Attachment classifications

2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 391-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shari L. Kidwell ◽  
Marion E. Young ◽  
Lisa D. Hinkle ◽  
Ashley D. Ratliff ◽  
Meagan E. Marcum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Emotional Competence ◽  
Emotion Understanding ◽  
Strange Situation ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Preschool Assessment ◽  
Parental Symptoms ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
And Behavior

This study examined attachment in association with preschoolers’ emotional functioning among 54 predominantly low-income families living in Appalachia. Attachment was assessed at age 4 years using the Strange Situation (Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978) and classified with the PAA (Crittenden, 2004). Emotional competence was measured via an interview about children’s memories for six emotions, rated in terms of both emotion understanding and regulation. Parent-, teacher-, and self-reports of children’s internalizing and externalizing symptoms were also completed. Questionnaires and interviews assessed socioeconomic risk and parental symptoms and negative childhood experiences. Children’s PAA strategies were significantly associated with risks, emotion regulation and understanding, and symptoms. Children using highly coercive strategies showed the greatest difficulties. Emotion regulation and understanding also were associated with parent- and teacher-report of symptoms. These findings suggest that intervention efforts with at-risk youngsters should target not only attachment security, but also emotional competence skills.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of a combined obesity prevention program in South Korea for children from low-income families that included primary caregiver participation

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 211-224
Author(s):  
Namhee Park ◽  
Mihae Im
Keyword(s):  
Obesity Prevention ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Prevention Program ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Primary Caregivers ◽  
Primary Caregiver ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
Obesity Prevention Program

Purpose: Obesity among children from low-income families is becoming a social problem. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an obesity prevention program that included physical activity, nutrition education, behavioral modification, and primary caregiver participation components among children from low-income families.Methods: The study analyzed a nonequivalent control group using a pretest-posttest design. A total of 77 children were recruited from six community childcare centers using purposive sampling. For the intervention group (n=40), the pretest was administered before the combined intervention program involving the participants' primary caregivers was conducted for 8 weeks. The posttest was conducted immediately after the program and again four weeks after the program.Results: Flexibility (F=4.64, p=.020), muscular endurance (F=11.22, p<.001), nutritional knowledge scores (F=4.79, p=.010), body image satisfaction scores (F=4.74, p=.012), and self-esteem scores (F=3.81, p=.029) showed significant differences and interactions between group and time for the intervention and control groups.Conclusion: Strategies to actively engage the primary caregivers of low-income families in children's obesity programs are needed. Obesity prevention programs for children based on the program in this study should be routinely developed, and continuing attention should be given to children from low-income families.

Rural-Urban Blood Lead Differences in North Carolina Children

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-64
Author(s):  
Edward H. Norman ◽  
W. Clayton Bordley ◽  
Irva Hertz-Picciotto ◽  
Dale A. Newton
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Lead Level ◽  
Blood Lead ◽  
Elevated Blood ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Screening Programs ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Low Income Families

Objective. To examine the prevalence of and risk factors for having a blood lead elevation among young children in a predominantly rural state. Methods. 20 720 North Carolina children at least 6 months and &lt;6 years of age were screened between November 1, 1992 and April 30, 1993 using either capillary or venous measurements of blood lead. Children were tested through routine screening programs that target low-income families and, hence, were not randomly selected. Eighty-one percent of the children were screened through local public health departments, and 19% were tested at private clinics. Results. The estimated prevalences of having an elevated blood lead level among those tested were: 20.2% (≥10 µg/dL), 3.2% (≥15 µg/dL), and 1.1% (≥20 µdL). Black children were at substantially increased risk of having a blood lead ≥15 µ/dL (odds ratio (OR) 2.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7 to 2.5). Children aged 2 years old had an elevated risk (OR = 1.4, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.7) compared to 1-year-olds, and males were at slightly increased risk (OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.0 to 14). Living in a rural county was nearly as strong a risk factor as race (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.6 to 24). The effect of rural residence was even greater among certain subgroups of children already at highest risk of having an elevated blood lead. The type of clinic (public vs private) where a child was screened was not associated with blood lead outcome. These same trends were seen for children with blood lead levels ≥20 µ/dL. Conclusions. Among children screened from rural communities, the prevalence of elevated blood lead is surprisingly high. Though few physicians have embraced universal lead screening, these data support the need for greater awareness of lead exposure in children living outside of inner-cities.

scholarly journals Childhood abuse and neglect and insecure attachment states of mind in adulthood: Prospective, longitudinal evidence from a high-risk sample

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 347-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Lee Raby ◽  
Madelyn H. Labella ◽  
Jodi Martin ◽  
Elizabeth A. Carlson ◽  
Glenn I. Roisman
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Childhood Abuse ◽  
Present Report ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Insecure Attachment ◽  
States Of Mind ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Exploratory Factor Analyses ◽  
State Of Mind ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

AbstractThe present report used data from the Minnesota Longitudinal Study of Risk and Adaptation to investigate the factor structure and childhood abuse and/or neglect related antecedents of adults’ attachment states of mind in a high-risk sample. Adult Attachment Interviews (AAIs) were collected when participants were age 26 years (N= 164) and Current Relationship Interviews (CRIs) were collected from participants (N= 116) and their romantic partners when target participants were between ages 20 and 28 years (M= 25.3 years). For both the AAI and the CRI, exploratory factor analyses revealed that (a) attachment state of mind scales loaded on two weakly correlated dimensions reflecting dismissing and preoccupied states of mind and (b) ratings of unresolved discourse loaded on the same factor as indicators of preoccupied states of mind. Experiencing any subtype of abuse and/or neglect, especially during multiple developmental periods, and experiencing multiple subtypes of abuse and/or neglect during childhood were associated with risk for preoccupied (but not dismissing) AAI states of mind regarding childhood relationships with caregivers. Analyses focused on the particular subtypes, and perpetrators indicated that the predictive significance of childhood abuse/neglect for adult's AAI preoccupied states of mind was specific to experiences of abuse (but not neglect) perpetrated by primary caregivers. In addition, experiencing chronic or multiple subtypes of childhood abuse and/or neglect increased risk for dismissing (but not preoccupied) CRI states of mind regarding adult romantic partners.

Problem Behaviors of Low-Income Children With Language Delays

2004 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 595-609 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cathy Huaqing Qi ◽  
Ann P. Kaiser
Keyword(s):  
Social Skills ◽  
Language Development ◽  
Problem Behaviors ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Child Behavior Checklist ◽  
Language Delays ◽  
Observational Measures ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Teacher Report Form ◽  
Low Income Families

Children from low-income families are at increased risk for significant behavioral and language problems. Early identification of these problems is essential for effective intervention. The purpose of the present study was to use multiple behavioral assessments to examine the behavioral profiles of sixty 3- and 4-year-old children from low-income families enrolled in Head Start programs and to compare the behavior characteristics of 32 children with language delays with those of 28 children with typical language development. Teachers completed the Child Behavior Checklist/Caregiver-Teacher Report Form/2–5 (CTRF; T. M. Achenbach, 1997) and the Social Skills Rating System (SSRS; F. M. Gresham & S. N. Elliott, 1990), and children were observed in the classrooms during structured and unstructured activities. Children with language delays exhibited more problem behaviors and poorer social skills on some of the observational measures than did children with typical language development, as predicted, but not on all.

scholarly journals The latent structure of the adult attachment interview: Large sample evidence from the collaboration on attachment transmission synthesis

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
K. Lee Raby ◽  
Marije L. Verhage ◽  
R. M. Pasco Fearon ◽  
R. Chris Fraley ◽  
Glenn I. Roisman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Adult Attachment ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Common Factor ◽  
Adult Attachment Interview ◽  
Latent Structure ◽  
States Of Mind ◽  
Confirmatory Factor Analyses ◽  
State Of Mind ◽  
Taxometric Analyses

Abstract The Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) is a widely used measure in developmental science that assesses adults’ current states of mind regarding early attachment-related experiences with their primary caregivers. The standard system for coding the AAI recommends classifying individuals categorically as having an autonomous, dismissing, preoccupied, or unresolved attachment state of mind. However, previous factor and taxometric analyses suggest that: (a) adults’ attachment states of mind are captured by two weakly correlated factors reflecting adults’ dismissing and preoccupied states of mind and (b) individual differences on these factors are continuously rather than categorically distributed. The current study revisited these suggestions about the latent structure of AAI scales by leveraging individual participant data from 40 studies (N = 3,218), with a particular focus on the controversial observation from prior factor analytic work that indicators of preoccupied states of mind and indicators of unresolved states of mind about loss and trauma loaded on a common factor. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that: (a) a 2-factor model with weakly correlated dismissing and preoccupied factors and (b) a 3-factor model that further distinguished unresolved from preoccupied states of mind were both compatible with the data. The preoccupied and unresolved factors in the 3-factor model were highly correlated. Taxometric analyses suggested that individual differences in dismissing, preoccupied, and unresolved states of mind were more consistent with a continuous than a categorical model. The importance of additional tests of predictive validity of the various models is emphasized.

Promoting Resilience: Breaking the Intergenerational Cycle of Adverse Childhood Experiences

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 772-780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Briana A. Woods-Jaeger ◽  
Bridget Cho ◽  
Chris C. Sexton ◽  
Lauren Slagel ◽  
Kathy Goggin
Keyword(s):  
Protective Factors ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Early Adversity ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Intergenerational Cycle

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including trauma exposure, parent mental health problems, and family dysfunction, put children at risk for disrupted brain development and increased risk for later health problems and mortality. These negative effects may be prevented by resilience promoting environments that include protective caregiving relationships. We sought to understand (1) parents’ experiences of ACEs, (2) the perceived impact on parenting, (3) protective factors that buffer ACEs potential negative impact, and (4) supports and services that can reduce the number and severity of ACEs and promote resilience among children exposed to early adversity. We conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with 11 low-income, urban parents of young children who had experienced ACEs. Interviews were analyzed for emergent themes and shared with parents from the community to ensure relevance and proper interpretation. Themes from these interviews describe the potential intergenerational cycle of ACEs and key factors that can break that cycle, including parent aspirations to make children’s lives better and parent nurturance and support. Parents’ suggestions for intervention are also presented. Our findings illuminate protective factors and family strengths that are important to build upon when developing and implementing interventions to promote resilience among parents and children exposed to early adversity. This study benefits from highly ecologically valid data obtained from low–socioeconomic status, racial/ethnic minority parents through one-on-one in-depth interviews and interpreted with the aid of community stakeholders through a community-based participatory research approach.

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