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Promoting a secure attachment: A primary prevention practice model

P O Svanberg1, Lisa Mennet, Susan Spieker

  • 1P.O. Svanberg Associates, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK. p.o@svanberg.myzen.co.uk

Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry
|July 7, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Early sensitive caregiving promotes secure infant attachment. A targeted prevention program using video feedback improved maternal sensitivity and infant attachment security, though findings are preliminary.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Attachment Theory

Background:

  • Early sensitive caregiving is crucial for secure infant attachment.
  • Parent-infant interactions can be screened and targeted for intervention.
  • Attachment security impacts child development and well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and evaluate a clinical program for improving parent-infant interactions.
  • To use a targeted prevention approach based on universal screening.
  • To enhance maternal sensitivity and infant attachment security.

Main Methods:

  • Universal screening of parent-infant interactions using the CARE-Index.
  • Risk stratification into low, medium, and high-risk groups.
  • Tailored interventions with reflective videotape-based feedback.

Main Results:

  • Intervention groups showed improved maternal sensitivity compared to controls.
  • Infants in intervention groups were more likely to achieve secure attachment.
  • Fewer infants in intervention groups exhibited DMM complex attachment strategies.

Conclusions:

  • Targeted, video-feedback interventions can enhance maternal sensitivity and infant attachment.
  • Preliminary findings suggest the program's potential for preventing insecure attachment.
  • Methodological limitations necessitate cautious interpretation of results.

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