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

Panayiota Vorria1, Zaira Papaligoura, Judy Dunn

  • 1Department of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. zapa@hol.gr

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines
|November 25, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Infants in residential group care showed significantly higher rates of disorganised attachment compared to those in family settings. This early life experience impacted their overall psychosocial development and caregiver interactions.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Child Psychiatry
  • Attachment Theory

Background:

  • Investigated attachment relationships in infants from birth in residential group care.
  • Examined links between attachment quality, psychosocial development, and caregiver sensitivity.
  • Included 86 infants in group care and 41 in two-parent families attending day-care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the attachment quality of infants raised in residential group care.
  • To explore the relationship between attachment and psychosocial development in this population.
  • To evaluate caregiver sensitivity and its impact on infant development.

Main Methods:

  • Compared attachment, cognitive development, temperament, and social behavior between group-reared and family-reared infants.
  • Assessed the quality of care provided by caregivers and mothers.
  • Utilized observational methods and standardized developmental assessments.

Main Results:

  • 66% of group-reared infants exhibited disorganised attachment versus 25% of controls.
  • Secure attachment was observed in 24% of group-reared infants compared to 41% of controls.
  • Group-reared infants showed differences in cognitive development, temperament, and social behavior.

Conclusions:

  • Residential group care negatively affected multiple aspects of infant development.
  • A high incidence of disorganised attachment was strongly linked to residential group care experiences.
  • Securely attached infants in group care demonstrated more positive affect and social engagement.
Abstract

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