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Applying a Parent Training Program in a Naturalistic Behavior Analytic Context to Improve Attachment in Children with

Areti Stefanaki1, Georgios Gkogkos2, Spyridoula Varlokosta3

  • 1Department of Educational Studies of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Ethnikis Antistaseos 34-38, Nea Filadelfeia, 14343, Athens, Greece. stefanareti@gmail.com.

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|August 27, 2022
PubMed

Insights

This study explored attachment in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). A behavior-analytic intervention effectively improved parent-child attachment quality in young children with ASD.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Early caregiver-child attachment is vital for emotional development in humans and animals.
  • Attachment patterns in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their caregivers are not well understood.
  • Secure attachment is foundational for healthy emotional and social development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess attachment patterns between two young children with ASD and their parents.
  • To identify methods for enhancing parent, child, and parent-child relational factors that support secure attachment.
  • To investigate the impact of a specific intervention on attachment quality in children with ASD.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a naturalistic, behavior-analytic approach.
  • Focused on assessing attachment patterns in a small sample of young children with ASD.
  • Employed observational and behavioral analysis techniques.

Main Results:

  • Findings aligned with previous research on attachment quality in children with ASD.
  • The behavior-analytic intervention proved effective in enhancing attachment quality.
  • Improvements were noted in parent-child relational characteristics.

Conclusions:

  • The study confirms existing knowledge regarding attachment in children with ASD.
  • Naturalistic, behavior-analytic interventions can positively influence attachment quality.
  • Further research is warranted to explore these interventions in larger ASD populations.

Keywords:
AttachmentAutism spectrum disorderNaturalistic behavior analytic interventionParent training

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