Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 24, 2026
07:06
Chronic Social Defeat Stress in Early Adolescent Male Mice
Published on: January 24, 2025
1.7K
Childhood Adversity and Reactive Attachment Disorder in Adolescents: A Systematic Review
Florencia Talmón-Knuser1, Lidia Flores-Cantos2, Alba Espuig2
1Department of Developmental Psychology and Education, Faculty of Health Science, Catholic University of Uruguay, Montevideo, 11600 Uruguay.
Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma
|March 23, 2026
Summary
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) negatively impact secure attachment, increasing Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) symptoms in adolescents. Early life adversity is linked to more RAD symptoms, even with protective measures.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can disrupt early caregiver-child attachment bonds.
- Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) is a serious condition affecting children's emotional development.
- Understanding the link between early adversity and adolescent RAD is crucial for intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the relationship between early-life ACEs and adolescent RAD symptoms.
- To explore how protective measures influence this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review adhering to PRISMA methodology.
- Searched Web of Science, ProQuest Central, PubMed, and Scopus.
- Included studies meeting specific inclusion criteria from 1,443 initial results.
Main Results:
- A significant relationship exists between ACEs and increased RAD symptoms in adolescents.
- ACEs are also associated with other adolescent mental health issues.
- Adolescents under protective measures who experienced ACEs showed more RAD symptoms.
Conclusions:
- ACEs negatively affect secure bond formation, contributing to RAD development and persistence in adolescence.
- Findings support the need for targeted prevention and intervention strategies for vulnerable youth.
- Early intervention for ACEs may mitigate long-term mental health consequences.
Related Concept Videos
03:34Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood
50.1K
Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships.
50.1K
01:24Attachment Styles
694
Jeffrey Simpson's attachment theory suggests that early caregiver relationships shape lasting patterns of behavior and emotional regulation, known as attachment styles. These patterns are organized along two key dimensions: self-esteem and interpersonal trust. The intersection of these dimensions produces four primary attachment styles that typically persist throughout life and significantly influence how individuals form and maintain relationships.Secure Attachment StyleIndividuals with a...
694
01:28Hazan and Shaver's Attachment Styles
711
Attachment theory, developed initially to explain infant–caregiver bonds, has been extended to illuminate patterns of intimacy in adult romantic relationships. Psychologists Cindy Hazan and Phillip Shaver proposed that the attachment styles observed in infancy form a framework for how individuals approach emotional closeness and conflict in adulthood. These attachment styles—secure, avoidant, and anxious—are linked to enduring patterns of behavior and emotional regulation in...
711
01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
1.3K
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
1.3K
01:30Oppositional Defiant Disorder
1.3K
A persistent pattern of angry or irritable mood, defiant behavior, or vindictiveness characterizes Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). Symptoms must occur over at least six months, involve interactions with individuals beyond siblings, and meet specific diagnostic criteria to be clinically significant. The disorder affects emotional regulation, social interactions, and behavior, often manifesting early in life and influencing long-term development and functioning.
Diagnostic Criteria and...
Diagnostic Criteria and...
1.3K
01:20Attachment
693
Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that...
693