Continuity, discontinuity, and coherence in attachment from infancy to late adolescence: Sequelae of organization and disorganization

Abstract

This longitudinal study examines continuity and discontinuity of attachment quality from infancy to late adolescence in a sample of 125 participants considered at birth to be at high-risk due to poverty. Strange Situations were conducted at 12 and 18 months; Adult Attachment Interviews were administered at age 19. Child and maternal characteristics and experiences and observational assessments of the families were explored as correlates of continuity and discontinuity in attachment. Contrary to findings of continuity from low-risk samples, analyses demonstrated no significant overall continuity in attachment security. Disorganized infants were significantly more likely than organized infants to be insecure or unresolved in late adolescence. Additionally, infant disorganization predicted unresolved abuse scores on the AAI for those participants who experienced childhood abuse. Significant correlates of continuity and change spanned a variety of age periods and included infant temperament, maternal life stress, family functioning at pre-adolescence, child maltreatment and features of the home environment. Findings are discussed as supporting the coherence of attachment over time.

The Friends and Family Interview: Measurement invariance across Belgium and Romania

“…According with previous studies (e.g., Hesse, 2008;Weinfield et al, 2004), our results confirm that the coherence in attachment narrative is a good indicator of secure and organized attachment representations, illustrating by moderate correlations between FFI latent factor and security and disorganization in both samples. Further studies could explore the relation between security, disorganization and the psychological adjustment of adopted adolescents, which could be done within the context of AAARN.…”

“…Furthermore, many attachment studies have concluded that the coherence is a central marker of both security and organization in both childhood (e.g., Weinfield, Whaley, & Egeland, 2004) and adulthood (e.g., Hesse, 2008). While security has always been related to psychological adjustment (e.g., Sroufe, 2005), nowadays disorganization is also considered to play an important role in psychological well-being (Green & Goldwyn, 2002).…”

Adolescent-parent attachment: Bonds that support healthy development

“…Importantly, research demonstrates that the quality of attachment varies according to the nature of parentchild interactions, ruling out the notion that it is determined entirely by dispositional qualities of the infant and young child (45). Studies also show that while early attachment exerts substantial influence over later development, attachment status can change as a function of deterioration and stress in the parent-child relationship or improvements in the relationship (46,47).…”

Playing with reality: IV. A theory of external reality rooted in intersubjectivity

“…Moss et al, 2004) and abnormalities have been noted well into adolescence (e.g. Weinfield et al, 2004).…”