Related Experiment Videos
Intervention in transmission of insecure attachment: a case study
F Juffer1, M H van Ijzendoorn, M J Bakermans-Kranenburg
1Center for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, The Netherlands.
Psychological Reports
|April 1, 1997
Summary
Short-term attachment interventions improved parental sensitivity and infant security but did not change parental attachment representations. Further research is needed to understand long-term effects on internal working models.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Attachment Theory
Background:
- Attachment-based interventions aim to improve parent-child relationships.
- The efficacy of short-term interventions on parental representations is under-explored.
Observation:
- A case study explored a short-term home-based intervention using written materials and video feedback.
- Intervention sessions included discussions on past and present attachment experiences.
- The parent had an insecure attachment representation in the Adult Attachment Interview.
Findings:
- Parental sensitivity and infant-mother attachment security improved post-intervention.
- Despite behavioral improvements, the parent's attachment representation remained insecure in a follow-up Adult Attachment Interview.
Implications:
- Short-term interventions may enhance observable parent-child interaction quality.
- Sustained changes in internal working models of attachment may require longer-term or different therapeutic approaches.
- Further investigation into the mechanisms of change in attachment interventions is warranted.