Parental interactions and quality of attachment in cerebral palsied children

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine quality of attachment in a group of cerebral palsied children. Eleven boys and eight girls with ages remaining from 18 to 32 months were observed in the context of an adapted version of the Ainsworth’s Strange Situation procedure. Ignoring indices of disorganization associated to the neurological condition of our participants it was found that 18 out of 19 observed cases showed coherent attachment patterns. In fact, we were able to identify nine secure, five avoidant and four ambivalent children. The adequacy of this classification was tested by discriminant function analysis which indicated that all cases were correctly classified. No relations were found between children’s patterns of attachment and parental interactive behaviors assessed by the Parent/Caregiver Involvement Scale. Theoretical implications of the results and potential contributions of attachment theory for early intervention are discussed.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17575/rpsicol.v17i1.438