Erfassung von Merkmalen kindlicher Bindung in familienrechtlichen Verfahren: Methodische Überlegungen

Child attachment characteristics are important for family court decisions. This article provides a description of relevant attachment characteristics and their assessment criteria (presence of attachment, differences in attachment quality, attachment disturbances). In addition, potential problems and pitfalls of attachment assessments in psychological court expert reports are addressed, including the topics of deficits in knowledge of basic attachment concepts and behavioural criteria, poor internal validity of easy accessible diagnostic attachment or relationship tools, and the limits of transferring valid and sound attachment research methods to the psychological assessments in expert court reports. We recommend an eclectic approach informed by attachment theory, of aggregating and integrate several attachment indicators, including characteristics of attachment figures and different levels of attachment assessment (behaviour and representation). Finally, discuss the use of attachment characteristics for giving a professional opinion on the impact of child rearing experiences, a child’s resilience in face of current adversities, and for predicting potential developmental trajectories. Implications for education and training of experts are mentioned.

Relation between Attachment and Obesity in Preschool Years: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Increasing evidence suggests that attachment plays an important role in obesity. However, few studies examined this relationship in preschool children. This study aimed to systematically examine the empirical, peer-reviewed evidence regarding the relationship between attachment quality and obesity in the preschool years. Using established guidelines, relevant peer-reviewed literature published between 2000 and July 2021 was searched through EBSCO. This yielded a total of 1124 records for review. Established inclusion criteria comprised: empirical studies published in peer-review journals; include at least one anthropometric measure and/or food consumption measure. Exclusion criteria comprised: attachment measures not following Bowlby-Ainsworth conceptualization of the construct; children in institutionalized settings; context of severe mental illness, documented substance use disorders, or eating disorders; include only a measure of the psychological aspects of eating; intervention programs. After exclusions, eight studies with a total of 9225 participants met the inclusion criteria. Results support the role of attachment in weight-related outcomes, suggesting that considering attachment in the risk of obesity could contribute to the elaboration of effective prevention and intervention programs. Limitations included the small number of studies, predominately cross-sectional designs, the diversity of methodologies, most samples not including fathers, and lack of evidence about the developmental mechanisms underlying the association between attachment and obesity. More evidence is needed to determine how attachment and obesity are linked, and the potential underlying mechanisms accounting for this relationship.

Influence of attachment on socio-psychological adaptation and its dynamics in the course of treatment in adolescent patients with schizotypal disorder

Summary. Purpose. Study of the influence of attachment quality (based on the analysis of its representation) on the results of treatment and socio-psychological adaptation of adolescent patients with schizotypal disorder.Materials and Methods. 41 adolescents with pseudoneurotic type of schizotypal disorder were surveyed [F 21.3]. All respondents were divided into two groups based on the type of early attachment to mother («reliable attachment» and «unreliable attachment»). A battery of 6 tests was used: a questionnaire for studying of coping-behavior ways (Lazarus R., Folkman С., WCQ, The Waysof Coping Questionnaire, 1988); test LSI, Life style index Plutchik R., Kellerman H., 1979 (in adapt.Wasserman L. I., etc., 1998), the modified questionnaire of attachment ( Yaremchuk M. V., 2005; in modific. Almazova O.V., Burmenskaya G.V., 2015), SCL-90R («Simptom Check List-90-Revised»; Derogatis, Rickels, Rock, 1976), integrative anxiety test (Bizyuk A.P, Wasserman L.I., Iovlev B.V., 2005), scale of assessment of social functioning of patients (Kotsyubinsky A.P., Sheinina N.S., etc. 2013). Studied were the features of protectively-adaptive behavior and the actual psychological symptomatic status, indicators of personal and situational anxiety, as well as features of contact with the doctor, and dynamics of indicators of social adaptation during treatment.Results. Confirmed the relationship of representation unreliable type of attachment to the mother, in patients with schizotypal disorder, and sustained violation in the sphere of relationships with parents, disorders of emotional regulation, reduce psychological adaption in general. In such patients, during the treatment process, lower compliance indicators, specific features of the protective-coping style of behavior, as well as slower rates of psychological and social recovery were revealed.Conclusion. According to the results of the study, data indicating the negative impact of unreliable attachment in adolescent patients with schizotypal disorder on psychological recovery during treatment and socio — psychological adaptation of patients in general were obtained. Psychotherapeutic recommendations are presented.

Infant–Father Attachment in Infants Born Preterm - A Brief Report

This study examines the infant–father attachment in infants born preterm (< 1500 g at birth and/or < 37 weeks gestation) in comparison to full-term infants. The infant–father attachment was assessed using the Strange Situation Procedure at a (corrected) age of 15 months. We found at least half of preterm and full-term infants (50.0% and 56.5 % respectively) securely attached to their fathers, and no significant overall difference was observed concerning the distribution of attachment quality comparing the two groups. In light of the fact that preterm infants tend to have numerous neurodevelopmental problems, it is encouraging that significant differences were not found in the distribution of the attachment quality among the groups. Therefore, from the perspective of attachment research, it would be highly beneficial to include fathers in the care of their preterm infants.

Is attachment style in early childhood associated with mental health difficulties in late adolescence?

BackgroundAlthough existing research has suggested an association between insecure attachment styles and mental health difficulties, these studies often have small sample sizes, use cross-sectional designs, and measure attachment as a discrete variable at a single point. It is also unclear whether these associations persist into late adolescence. In this prospective study we aimed to determine whether insecure attachment style in early childhood is associated with depression and self-harm at 18 years.MethodsWe used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children cohort. Mothers completed attachment related questionnaires when their child was 18, 30, and 42 months old. Offspring depression and lifetime self-harm was assessed at 18 years using the Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised. Attachment was derived as a latent variable in a structural equation modelling framework. Logistic regression was performed on participants with complete attachment data (n=7032) to examine the association between attachment style and depression and self-harm, with adjustment for potential confounders. Differential dropout was accounted for using multiple imputation.ResultsWe found some evidence for an association between attachment quality and depression and self-harm. In the fully adjusted imputed model, a one standard deviation increase in insecure attachment was associated with a 13% increase in the odds of depression at age 18 (OR=1.13; 95%CI=1.00 to 1.27) and a 14% increase in the odds of self-harm at age 18 (OR=1.14; 95%CI=1.02 to 1.25).ConclusionsOur findings strengthen the evidence suggesting that an insecure attachment style assessed in early childhood is associated with mental health difficulties in late adolescence. If this association is causal, policies to support parenting or attachment-based interventions to improve attachment quality could help reduce mental health difficulties in adolescence/young adulthood.

Σταθερότητα και αλλαγή των αναπαραστάσεων για τον δεσμό: η επίδραση της επιληψίας στην ποιότητα του δεσμού τον πρώτο χρόνο μετά τη διάγνωση

A secure mother-child attachment early in life promotes healthy socio-emotional development. Security of attachment can be maintained through positive parental care over time. Life stresses can impact on maternal availability and sensitivity and lead to changes in attachment quality towards insecure patterns of attachment. The present study, which is part of a larger research project, aims to explore for the first time in a Greek population of preschool- and school-aged children and their mothers the impact of pediatric illness on stability and change of mother-child attachment representations. Twenty-five children, 9 boys and 16 girls, 4-9 years old with a recent diagnosis of epilepsy, were assessed using the Manchester Child Attachment Story Task (MCAST) at two time points, T1 and T2. Participants’ mothers completed the Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ) at both times (Τ1, Τ2). The results seem to confirm the stability and change of attachment representations during the first year after the diagnosis of epilepsy. The importance of perceived social support by mothers for positive change of mother-child attachment representations is also stressed by the authors.

Multiple Maltreatment and Adverse Childhood Experiences: Exploring Cumulative Threats to Attachment Quality

Child maltreatment and other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) often cooccur and are related to negative socioemotional outcomes; however, limited research differentiates how maltreatment versus other ACEs predict such outcomes. These efforts are necessary to determine whether cumulative ACE screening efforts best predict those at risk for poor outcomes. We examined cumulative childhood ACEs, cumulative maltreatment subtypes, and adult attachment quality in 379 young and middle-aged adults. This sample enabled comparison between emerging adults and older adults who have navigated additional developmental tasks that may counteract the effects of early ACEs. More ACEs and maltreatment experiences predicted insecure anxious, avoidant, and fearful attachment styles; however, maltreatment failed to predict unique variance in attachment quality beyond other ACEs. Results suggest that maltreatment may be best categorized as part of a general cumulative risk profile predicting poor socioemotional outcomes. Findings support burgeoning trends in medical and social service settings assessing ACEs using simple dichotomous screening tools to identify those requiring intervention and support services.