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Updated: May 10, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Very preterm/very low birthweight infants' attachment: infant and maternal characteristics

Dieter Wolke1, Suna Eryigit-Madzwamuse, Tina Gutbrod

  • 1Department of Psychology, Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Group, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.

Archives of Disease in Childhood. Fetal and Neonatal Edition
|June 25, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Very preterm/very low birthweight infants show higher rates of disorganised attachment. Neurodevelopmental issues, not maternal sensitivity, predict disorganised attachment in this group, unlike full-term infants.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Neonatal Research
  • Attachment Theory

Background:

  • Infant attachment security and disorganisation are crucial for social-emotional development.
  • Very preterm/very low birthweight (VP/VLBW) infants face unique challenges impacting development.
  • Understanding attachment pathways in VP/VLBW infants is vital for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Compare attachment security and disorganisation between VP/VLBW and full-term infants.
  • Investigate differing pathways to disorganised attachment in these two groups.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 71 VP/VLBW and 105 full-term infants at 18 months using the Strange Situation Assessment.
  • Assessed maternal sensitivity, mother-infant interaction, infant difficultness, and developmental status.

Main Results:

  • Higher disorganised attachment rates in VP/VLBW (32%) vs. full-term (17%) infants.
  • Maternal sensitivity predicted disorganisation in full-term infants.
  • Infant distress and developmental delay, not maternal sensitivity, predicted disorganisation in VP/VLBW infants.

Conclusions:

  • A significant proportion of VP/VLBW infants exhibit disorganised attachment.
  • Neurodevelopmental problems are a key pathway to disorganised attachment in VP/VLBW infants.
  • Disorganised attachment is common in VP/VLBW infants, even with sensitive parenting.
Abstract

Keywords:
Child PsychologyNeurodevelopment

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