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Inhibited attachment disordered behavior in institutionalized preschool children: links with early and current

Raquel Corval1, Jay Belsky2, Joana Baptista1

  • 1a School of Psychology, CIPsi , University of Minho , Braga , Portugal.

Attachment & Human Development
|August 15, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Inhibited attachment disordered behavior (IADB) in institutionalized children stems from both early neglect and poor current caregiver relationships. Addressing these factors is key to fostering healthy attachment.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Attachment Theory

Background:

  • Inhibited attachment disordered behavior (IADB) is marked by difficulties forming caregiver bonds, often seen in institutionalized children.
  • IADB is linked to ongoing social and emotional challenges, frequently arising from pathological care environments.
  • Understanding the origins of IADB is crucial for intervention and support.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the factors contributing to IADB in institutionalized children.
  • To examine the impact of pre-institutional family experiences and concurrent institutional relationships on IADB.
  • To enhance the understanding of conditions fostering secure attachment in vulnerable children.

Main Methods:

  • A study involving 146 institutionalized children aged 36–78 months.
  • Assessment of IADB through a semi-structured interview with the primary caregiver.
  • Analysis of both prior family experiences (neglect, deprivation) and current institutional care quality.

Main Results:

  • Both pre-institutional experiences, such as parental abandonment, and current relational factors, like low-quality child-caregiver relationships, significantly predicted IADB.
  • The findings highlight a dual influence of past and present environmental factors on attachment.
  • Specific adverse experiences were identified as key predictors of inhibited attachment.

Conclusions:

  • Early life adversity and the quality of current caregiving relationships are critical determinants of IADB.
  • Interventions should address both historical trauma and the immediate caregiving environment to support attachment.
  • Promoting stable, high-quality caregiver relationships is essential for preventing and mitigating IADB.

Keywords:
Inhibited attachment disordered behaviorcaregiving qualityearly riskfamily of origininstitutionalizationrelational experiences

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