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Comparing Eye-tracking Data of Children with High-functioning ASD, Comorbid ADHD, and of a Control Watching Social Videos
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Attachment in adults with high-functioning autism.

Emma L Taylor1, Mary Target, Tony Charman

  • 1Mile End Hospital, London, UK. emma.taylor5@nhsmail.net

Attachment & Human Development
|September 6, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can discuss attachment experiences. A minority show secure attachment, similar to clinical samples, though interviews may be affected by discourse style.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Attachment Theory

Background:

  • Attachment security is crucial for socio-emotional development.
  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with social and communication challenges.
  • The application of attachment theory to ASD populations requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess attachment security in adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (ASD) using the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI).
  • To explore the coherence and reflective function of AAI narratives in adults with ASD compared to controls.
  • To examine the relationship between attachment security and factors like IQ, autistic symptomatology, and theory of mind in adults with ASD.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) with 20 adults diagnosed with high-functioning ASD.
  • Compared AAI coherence and reflective function scores with a matched control group.
  • Employed a parallel interview to differentiate discourse style influences from attachment-specific states of mind.

Main Results:

  • Three out of 20 participants (15%) with ASD were classified as securely attached, a proportion comparable to general clinical samples.
  • AAI narratives from participants with ASD were less coherent and demonstrated lower reflective function than controls.
  • Attachment security in adults with ASD showed minimal correlation with IQ, autistic symptomatology, or theory of mind measures.

Conclusions:

  • Adults with ASD can successfully engage with the AAI, producing scoreable attachment narratives.
  • A subset of adults with ASD exhibits secure attachment, challenging assumptions about universal attachment insecurity in this population.
  • While discourse style can influence AAI responses, specific scale scores reflect genuine attachment states of mind in adults with ASD.