Attachment disorder and attachment theory – Two sides of one medal or two different coins?

Vervoort²,

2020

Preprint

Background: Children with attachment disorder show prosocial behavior problems. Prosocial behavior problems are an operationalization of the symptom of inhibited and emotionally withdrawn behavior in children with attachment disorder symptoms. However, the underlying mechanism between attachment disorder symptoms and prosocial behavior problems is still unclear and findings in literature are mixed.Methods: The current study investigated the role of children’s attachment representations in this association. Attachment representations reflect knowledge about a cognitive script regarding the attachment figure as a source for support (Secure Base Script). We tested whether secure base script knowledge 1) mediates or 2) moderates the link between attachment disorder symptoms and prosocial behavior problems in 67 children (6-11 years; 83.1% boys) recruited from special education schools for children with behavioral problems. Children completed a pictorial Secure Base Script Test. Their attachment disorder symptoms were assessed during an interview with the primary caregivers. Primary caregivers and teachers filled out a prosocial behavior questionnaire about the child. Results: Results did not support the mediation hypothesis, but evidence for the moderation hypothesis was found. Secure base script knowledge attenuated the negative association between attachment disorder symptoms and prosocial behavior.Conclusions: These findings contribute to the discussion about the link between attachment representations and attachment disorders.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Attachment Disorder Symptoms and Prosocial Behavior in Middle Childhood: The Role of Secure Base Script Knowledge

Vervoort²,

2020

Preprint

“…Although this mediation hypothesis aligns with ruling theory, research shows that it is surprisingly di cult to nd evidence in favor of a robust association between measures of both constructs of RAD symptoms and attachment security [30,31,32]. For example, recent research of Schröder and colleagues showed that insecure attachment representations and RAD symptoms are distinct concepts [33]. They found no signi cant differences in the occurrence of the different attachment representations (secure, avoidant, anxious and disorganized) in children in early middle childhood with RAD symptoms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Reactive Attachment Disorder Symptoms and Prosocial Behavior in Middle Childhood: The Role of Secure Base Script Knowledge

Vervoort²,

2020

Preprint

Background: Children with attachment disorder show prosocial behavior problems. Children with a reactive attachment disorder show inhibited and emotionally withdrawn behavior. Consequently, these children typically display prosocial behavior problems. However, the underlying mechanism between reactive attachment disorder and prosocial behavior problems is still unclear and findings in literature are mixed. Methods : The current study investigated the role of children’s attachment representations in this association. Attachment representations reflect knowledge about a cognitive script regarding the attachment figure as a source for support (Secure Base Script). We tested whether secure base script knowledge 1) mediates or 2) moderates the link between reactive attachment disorder and prosocial behavior problems in 83 children (6-11 years; 83.1% boys) recruited from special education schools for children with behavioral problems. Children completed a pictorial Secure Base Script Test. Their reactive attachment disorder symptoms were assessed during an interview with the primary caregivers. Primary caregivers and teachers filled out a prosocial behavior questionnaire about the child. Results : Results did not support the mediation hypothesis, but evidence for the moderation hypothesis was found. Secure base script knowledge attenuated the negative association between attachment disorder symptoms and prosocial behavior. Conclusions : These findings contribute to the discussion about the link between attachment representations and attachment disorders.

“…Although this mediation hypothesis aligns with ruling theory, research shows that it is surprisingly difficult to find evidence in favor of a robust association between measures of both constructs of RAD symptoms and attachment security [ 30 – 32 ]. For example, recent research of Schröder and colleagues showed that insecure attachment representations and RAD symptoms are distinct concepts [ 33 ]. They found no significant differences in the occurrence of the different attachment representations (secure, avoidant, anxious and disorganized) in children in early middle childhood with RAD symptoms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reactive attachment disorder symptoms and prosocial behavior in middle childhood: the role of Secure Base Script knowledge

Vervoort²,

2020

BMC Psychiatry

Background Children with attachment disorder show prosocial behavior problems. Children with a reactive attachment disorder show inhibited and emotionally withdrawn behavior. Consequently, these children typically display prosocial behavior problems. However, the underlying mechanism between reactive attachment disorder and prosocial behavior problems is still unclear and findings in literature are mixed. Methods The current study investigated the role of children’s attachment representations in this association. Attachment representations reflect knowledge about a cognitive script regarding the attachment figure as a source for support (Secure Base Script). We tested whether secure base script knowledge 1) mediates or 2) moderates the link between reactive attachment disorder and prosocial behavior problems in 83 children (6–11 years; 83.1% boys) recruited from special education schools for children with behavioral problems. Children completed a pictorial Secure Base Script Test. Their reactive attachment disorder symptoms were assessed during an interview with the primary caregivers. Primary caregivers and teachers filled out a prosocial behavior questionnaire about the child. Results Results did not support the mediation hypothesis, but evidence for the moderation hypothesis was found. Secure base script knowledge attenuated the negative association between attachment disorder symptoms and prosocial behavior. Conclusions These findings contribute to the discussion about the link between attachment representations and attachment disorders.