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Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

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Open Access 01-12-2023 | Care | Research

Attachment disorder symptoms in foster children: development and associations with attachment security

Authors: Josephine D. Kliewer-Neumann, Janin Zimmermann, Ina Bovenschen, Sandra Gabler, Katrin Lang, Gottfried Spangler, Katja Nowacki

Published in: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health | Issue 1/2023

Abstract

Background

Children in foster care constitute a risk population for developing symptoms of attachment disorders. However, little is known about the longitudinal course of attachment disorders and their association with attachment security in foster children.

Method

This longitudinal study assessed attachment disorder symptoms in a sample of foster children (n = 55) aged 12 to 82 months. Foster parents with a newly placed foster child were assessed at three points during the first year of placement. At all assessment points, the Disturbance of Attachment Interview (DAI; Smyke and Zeanah in Disturbances of attachment interview, Tulane University, New Orleans, 1999) and the Attachment Q-sort (AQS; Waters and Deane in Monogr Soc Res Child Dev 50:41–65, 1985 German version as reported (Schölmerich and Leyendecker in Deutsche Übersetzung des attachment behavior Q-Set, revision 3.2. Unpublished manual, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, 1999) were used to investigate the interplay between disorder symptoms and attachment security.

Results

The results revealed that the symptoms of attachment disorders decreased. The decrease was more pronounced for the inhibited than for the disinhibited symptoms with marked changes in the first 6 months of placement. There was a noticeable gender difference in the development with boys showing a more pronounced decrease in inhibited attachment disorder symptoms and a stronger increase of attachment security. After 12 months, no significant gender effects were found. Regarding the association between symptoms of attachment disorders and attachment security, a significant negative correlation between the inhibited attachment disorder symptoms and attachment security was found 12 months after placement.

Conclusions

Attachment disorder symptoms decreased in the stable foster care environment. Thus, foster care seems to be an effective placement option regarding children’s attachment development.

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Title: Attachment disorder symptoms in foster children: development and associations with attachment security
Authors: Josephine D. Kliewer-Neumann
Janin Zimmermann
Ina Bovenschen
Sandra Gabler
Katrin Lang
Gottfried Spangler
Katja Nowacki
Publication date: 01-12-2023
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Care
Reactive Attachment Disorder
Published in: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health / Issue 1/2023
Electronic ISSN: 1753-2000
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-023-00636-5

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

Attachment disorder symptoms in foster children: development and associations with attachment security

Abstract

Background

Method

Results

Conclusions

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Method

Results

Conclusions

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