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Risks and outcomes associated with disorganized/controlling patterns of attachment at age three years in the National

Erin O'Connor1, Jean-Francois Bureau2, Kathleen McCartney2

  • 1New York University.

Infant Mental Health Journal
|July 30, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Disorganized/controlling attachment in preschoolers is linked to significant maternal and child maladjustment. Early identification of subtypes can help predict behavioral issues and inform interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Child Psychopathology
  • Attachment Theory

Background:

  • Disorganized/controlling attachment in preschool is associated with maternal and child maladjustment.
  • Further research is needed to understand disorganized/controlling attachment in early childhood, specifically at age three.
  • This attachment style is of significant interest in the study of psychopathology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate risk factors and outcomes linked to disorganized/controlling behavior at age three.
  • To differentiate risk factors and outcomes among the four subtypes of disorganized/controlling attachment.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the first two phases of the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development, a prospective study.
  • Included 1,364 children from birth, with analyses conducted at 36 and 54 months of age.
  • Assessed attachment-relevant domains: maternal well-being, mother-child interactions, and child social adaptation.

Main Results:

  • At 36 months, the disorganized/controlling group showed the most maladaptive patterns in maternal well-being, mother-child interactions, and social adaptation compared to secure and insecure-organized groups.
  • By 54 months, this group exhibited higher internalizing and externalizing behavior problems and poorer teacher-child relationships.
  • Significant differences among subtypes revealed that behaviorally disorganized and controlling-punitive subtypes had more maladaptive patterns than controlling-caregiving and controlling-mixed subtypes.

Conclusions:

  • Disorganized/controlling attachment at age three is a significant predictor of later maladjustment and behavioral problems.
  • Understanding the specific subtypes of disorganized/controlling attachment is crucial for targeted interventions.
  • Early identification and intervention for disorganized/controlling attachment can mitigate long-term negative outcomes for children and families.

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