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Application of the strange situation attachment paradigm to a neurologically impaired population
Insights
Mothers and infants with developmental delays were studied. Secure attachment was linked to infant social responsiveness, but severe impairment made attachment classification difficult.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Infant Psychiatry
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Background:
- Mother-infant attachment is crucial for development.
- Infants with neurological impairments may face challenges in attachment.
- Understanding attachment in this population is vital for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate mother-infant attachment in dyads with impaired infants.
- To determine factors influencing attachment classification and quality in this sample.
Main Methods:
- Studied 24 mother/impaired infant dyads (12-26 months chronological age).
- Infants exhibited neurological impairment or motor development delays.
- Utilized Ainsworth attachment scheme, assessing general development, impairment severity, and social responsiveness.
Main Results:
- Attachment was 'not classifiable' in the most severely impaired infants.
- For classifiable infants (80%), general development and impairment severity had limited impact on attachment quality.
- Higher infant social responsiveness correlated with secure attachment classifications.
Conclusions:
- Infant social responsiveness is a key factor in secure attachment, even with developmental impairments.
- Severe neurological impairment can hinder the assessment of mother-infant attachment.
- Attachment security may be preserved in less impaired infants, highlighting the importance of social interaction.
Abstract:
Mother-infant attachment was studied in 24 mother/impaired infant dyads. The infants, from 12 to 26 months chronological age, manifested primary neurological impairment or undiagnosed delay in gross and fine motor development. Measures of general development and degree of child impairment significantly differentiated "classifiability" of attachment in the Ainsworth scheme; thus, the most severely impaired infants were rated "not classifiable." For those infants who were fully classifiable (80% of the sample), only 1 measure of general development or degree of impairment differentiated quality of attachment classification. Infants rated higher on a measure of social responsiveness were more likely to possess secure attachments than those receiving lower ratings on the measure.