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Quality of attachment in infants less than 1500g or less than 32weeks. Related factors

María López-Maestro1, Purificación Sierra-Garcia2, Celia Diaz-Gonzalez3

  • 1Neonatology Unit, 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Red SAMID II, Madrid, Spain.

Early Human Development
|December 4, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Most preterm infants exhibit secure attachment, linked to enhanced cognitive development. However, extremely preterm infants show lower rates of secure attachment, highlighting the need for targeted support.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Development
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatric Care

Background:

  • Prematurity poses significant risks for mortality and long-term health issues.
  • Infant prematurity can negatively impact parent-child bonding and attachment.
  • Development-centered care strategies are implemented in neonatal units.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate attachment patterns in premature infants (<32 weeks gestational age or <1500g).
  • To examine the association between attachment types and neonatal/family factors.
  • To assess attachment in infants cared for in development-centered neonatal settings.

Main Methods:

  • Study included infants <1500g or <32 weeks gestational age admitted within 48 hours.
  • Attachment assessed at corrected age of 2 years using the Strange Situation Procedure (SSP).
  • Infants classified as secure (B), avoidant (A), or resistant/ambivalent (C); insecure defined as A+C.

Main Results:

  • Secure attachment observed in 64% of infants; insecure attachment in 36%.
  • Securely attached infants showed significantly higher cognitive scores (Bayley III Scales) than insecurely attached infants (p=0.007).
  • Infants born at ≤26 weeks gestational age had lower rates of secure attachment (23%) compared to those born >26 weeks (69%) (p=0.003).

Conclusions:

  • The majority of premature infants studied displayed secure attachment.
  • Secure attachment in premature infants is associated with better cognitive outcomes.
  • Infants born extremely preterm (<26 weeks GA) exhibit a lower frequency of secure attachment.
Abstract

Keywords:
AttachmentNICUNeurodevelopmentPremature infants

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