Disorganized and controlling patterns of attachment, role reversal, and caregiving helplessness: Links to adolescents’ externalizing problems.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate longitudinal associations between attachment at early school age and the development of externalizing symptoms in adolescence. The mediating roles of maternal helplessness and role reversal were also examined. Attachment classifications of 136 children (63 boys and 73 girls) and quality of mother-child interactions (role reversal) were observed at ages 5-6 using the separation-reunion procedure (Main & Cassidy, 1988). At age 13, externalizing problems reported by both the adolescent and the mother (Youth Self-Report; Achenbach, 1991), and caregiving helplessness reported by the mother (Caregiving Helplessness Questionnaire; George, Coulson, & Magana, 1997) were evaluated. Results indicated that children with disorganized attachment to their caregivers evidenced the most maladaptive patterns compared with children with secure attachment, displaying high externalizing symptoms and having mothers reporting more helplessness. Significant differences found among the disorganization subtypes indicated that the controlling-punitive subgroup had more maladaptive patterns across variables than did the behaviorally disorganized and controlling-caregiving subgroups. These findings support the idea that early attachment, mother-child interaction quality, and caregiving helplessness should be central themes in prevention and intervention programs with mother-child dyads.

Dysregulated Motherhood: Exploring the Risk Features in a Mother’s Caregiving Representations

“…The finding that caregiving risk features can be spotted in their full spectrum from the naturalistic setting of parent-infant psychotherapy is important. Targeting interventions at them is key in preventing the consolidation of maladaptive interaction patterns and preventing psychopathologies in children (Lyons-Ruth, Melnick, Bronfman, Sherry, & Llanas, 2004;LeCompte & Moss, 2014). The results of the current study suggest that the more subtle transmitters of "hidden trauma"-maternal helplessness and fearfulness-are distinct from other risks, and they can and should be identified early on.…”

Locus of control in maltreated children: the impact of attachment and cumulative trauma

“…Although there is little research on these cognitive dimensions related to being a victim of maltreatment, many studies have taken into consideration the type of attachment that emerges from the experience of highly distorted and/or needy care from those who should play the role of caregiver (e. g., Lecompte & Moss 2014;O'Connor et al 2011;Unger 2011). The results of bad adaptation, previously highlighted (e.g., Ellis & Milner 1981;Serrano et al 1979), retake the point with regard to the quality of the attachment relationship in which child victims of abuse are inserted (Bacon & Richardson 2001;McElheran et al 2012).…”

Scaffolding in Parenting With Respect to Cognitive and Social Development of Their Children.

“…When a child's needs are met, a secure attachment develops. Authoritative parenting provides a secure attachment which is linked with various positive outcomes including less behavioural problems (Lecompte & Moss, 2014) and self-efficacy (Tavakolizadeh et al, 2015). When needs of the children are not met, they develop either an avoidant or resistant attachment.…”