Disrupted maternal communication and attachment disorganization in children with autism spectrum disorder

Gabriela Levy; David Oppenheim; Nina Koren-Karie; Inbar Ariav-Paraira; Noa Gal; Nurit Yirmiya

doi:10.1080/14616734.2019.1666287

Disrupted maternal communication and attachment disorganization in children with autism spectrum disorder

Gabriela Levy, David Oppenheim, Nina Koren-Karie, Inbar Ariav-Paraira, Noa Gal, Nurit Yirmiya

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We examined whether disrupted maternal communication, which is associated with disorganized attachment in typically developing children, is also associated with disorganized attachment in children with ASD. The attachments of 45 boys with ASD and maternal disruption were assessed in the Strange Situation Procedure. Analyses revealed a link between low cognitive functioning and resistant/ambivalent and disorganized attachment, and children’s functioning was therefore controlled. Contrary to expectations, mothers of children with disorganized attachments did not show more disrupted communication than mothers of children with organized attachments. However, the 4-way attachment breakdown showed that the mothers of disorganized and ambivalent/resistant children had higher disruption scores than mothers of secure and avoidant children. The findings suggest that the expected associations between maternal disruption and attachment disorganization apply to children with ASD as well, but raise questions whether disrupted behavior is a unique antecedent of disorganized attachment or also of resistant/ambivalent attachment.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	568-581
Number of pages	14
Journal	Attachment and Human Development
Volume	22
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/14616734.2019.1666287
State	Published - Oct 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Israel Science Foundation [824/02]; The?Harry and Sadie Lasky Foundation Fellowship granted to Gabriela Levi, Noa Gal, and Inbar Ariav-Paraira at the Center for the Study of Child Development, the University of Haifa. This research was supported by grant 824/02 from the Israel Science Foundation and by student fellowships from the Harry and Sadie Lasky Foundation, and was based on an MA thesis written by Gabriela Levi at the University of Haifa. The authors would like to extend special thanks to the families and children for participating in the study.

Funding Information:
This research was supported by grant 824/02 from the Israel Science Foundation and by student fellowships from the Harry and Sadie Lasky Foundation, and was based on an MA thesis written by Gabriela Levi at the University of Haifa. The authors would like to extend special thanks to the families and children for participating in the study.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Keywords

AMBIANCE
Disorganized attachment
autism spectrum disorder
disrupted parenting
resistant/ambivalent attachment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Developmental and Educational Psychology
Psychiatry and Mental health

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1080/14616734.2019.1666287

Cite this

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abstract = "We examined whether disrupted maternal communication, which is associated with disorganized attachment in typically developing children, is also associated with disorganized attachment in children with ASD. The attachments of 45 boys with ASD and maternal disruption were assessed in the Strange Situation Procedure. Analyses revealed a link between low cognitive functioning and resistant/ambivalent and disorganized attachment, and children{\textquoteright}s functioning was therefore controlled. Contrary to expectations, mothers of children with disorganized attachments did not show more disrupted communication than mothers of children with organized attachments. However, the 4-way attachment breakdown showed that the mothers of disorganized and ambivalent/resistant children had higher disruption scores than mothers of secure and avoidant children. The findings suggest that the expected associations between maternal disruption and attachment disorganization apply to children with ASD as well, but raise questions whether disrupted behavior is a unique antecedent of disorganized attachment or also of resistant/ambivalent attachment.",

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note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by the Israel Science Foundation [824/02]; The?Harry and Sadie Lasky Foundation Fellowship granted to Gabriela Levi, Noa Gal, and Inbar Ariav-Paraira at the Center for the Study of Child Development, the University of Haifa. This research was supported by grant 824/02 from the Israel Science Foundation and by student fellowships from the Harry and Sadie Lasky Foundation, and was based on an MA thesis written by Gabriela Levi at the University of Haifa. The authors would like to extend special thanks to the families and children for participating in the study. Funding Information: This research was supported by grant 824/02 from the Israel Science Foundation and by student fellowships from the Harry and Sadie Lasky Foundation, and was based on an MA thesis written by Gabriela Levi at the University of Haifa. The authors would like to extend special thanks to the families and children for participating in the study. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.",

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Disrupted maternal communication and attachment disorganization in children with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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