Parental sensitivity and attachment in children with autism spectrum disorder: comparison with children with mental retardation, with language delays, and with typical development.

Full Abstract

This study on sensitivity and attachment included 55 toddlers and their parents. Samples included children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), mental retardation, language delay, and typical development. Children were diagnosed at 4 years of age. Two years before diagnosis, attachment was assessed with the Strange Situation procedure, and parental sensitivity and child involvement during free play were assessed with the Emotional Availability Scale. Parents of children with ASD were equally sensitive as parents of children without ASD, but their children showed more attachment disorganization and less child involvement. More sensitive parents had more secure children, but only in the group without ASD. Less severe autistic symptoms in the social domain predicted more attachment security. Autism challenges the validity of attachment theory.

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Author information

Author/s: van Ijzendoorn, Marinus H (MH); Rutgers, Anna H (AH); Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marian J (MJ); Swinkels, Sophie H N (SH); van Daalen, Emma (E); Dietz, Claudine (C); Naber, Fabienne B A (FB); Buitelaar, Jan K (JK); van Engeland, Herman (H);

Affiliation: Centre for Child and Family Studies, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, the Netherlands. vanijzen(-atsign-)fsw.leidenuniv.nl

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Child development (Child Dev), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2007 Mar-Apr; vol 78 (issue 2) : pp 597-608

Dates: Created 2007/03/26; Completed 2007/07/06;

PMID: 17381792, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Autistic Disorder - diagnosis; psychology
Child, Preschool
Developmental Disabilities - diagnosis; psychology
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Infant
Language Development Disorders - diagnosis; psychology
Male

Mental Retardation - diagnosis; psychology
Netherlands
Object Attachment
Parent-Child Relations
Parenting - psychology
Personality Assessment
Reference Values
Social Environment
Socialization

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