Attachment--and loss.

Major developments in attachment research over the past 2 decades have introduced parental mentalization as a predictor of infant-parent attachment security Parental mentalization is the degree to which parents show frequent, coherent, or appropriate appreciation of their infants' internal states The present study examined the triangular relations between parental mentalization, parental sensitivity, and attachment security A total of 20 effect sizes (N = 974) on the relation between parental mentalization and attachment, 82 effect sizes (N = 6,664) on the relation between sensitivity and attachment, and 24 effect sizes (N = 2,029) on the relation between mentalization and sensitivity were subjected to multilevel meta-analyses The results showed a pooled correlation of r = 30 between parental mentalization and infant attachment security, and rs of 25 for the correlations between sensitivity and attachment security, and between parental mentalization and sensitivity A meta-analytic structural equation model was performed to examine the combined effects of mentalization and sensitivity as predictors of infant attachment Together, the predictors explained 12% of the variance in attachment security After controlling for the effect of sensitivity, the relation between parental mentalization and attachment remained, r = 24; the relation between sensitivity and attachment remained after controlling for parental mentalization, r = 19 Sensitivity also mediated the relation between parental mentalization and attachment security, r = 07, suggesting that mentalization exerts both direct and indirect influences on attachment security The results imply that parental mentalization should be incorporated into existing models that map the predictors of infant-parent attachment (PsycINFO Database Record

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Mind matters: A meta-analysis on parental mentalization and sensitivity as predictors of infant-parent attachment.

Video-feedback Intervention to promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline (VIPP-SD) is a social-learning and attachment-based intervention using video feedback to support sensitive parenting and at the same time setting firm limits. Empirical studies and meta-analyses have shown that sensitive parenting is the key determinant to promote secure child–parent attachment relationships and that adequate parental discipline contributes to fewer behavior problems in children. Building on this evidence, VIPP-SD has been tested in various populations of at-risk parents and vulnerable children (in the age range of zero to six years), as well as in the context of child care. In twelve randomized controlled trials including 1116 parents and caregivers, VIPP-SD proved to be effective in promoting sensitive caregiving, while positive social–emotional child outcomes were also found.

https://scholarlypublications.universiteitleiden.nl/access/item%3A2943580/view

Pairing attachment theory and social learning theory in video-feedback intervention to promote positive parenting.

There is strong evidence that children of mothers with insecure attachment styles have poor outcome trajectories. Maternal sensitivity may be the behaviour which links mother and child attachment m...

Maternal sensitivity, its relationship with child outcomes, and interventions that address it: a systematic literature review

In the present meta-analysis 627 Strange Situation Procedures (SSP; Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978) from 17 Italian infant attachment studies and 2,258 Adult Attachment Interviews (AAI; Main, Kaplan, & Cassidy, 1985) from 50 Italian adult attachment studies were included. All studies were published between 1990 and 2009. Our aim was to test the universality hypothesis of attachment theory in this Italian database. Results indicated that the majority of nonclinical Italian infants were classified as securely attached (53%); similarly, the majority of nonclinical Italian adults were secure (60%). Although cross-cultural similarities provide evidence for the universality hypothesis of attachment theory, our meta- analysis revealed also interesting cultural specificities. First, nonclinical Italian infants' distribution showed an overrepresentation of avoidant attachments com- pared to the normative distribution. Second, the underrepresentation of unresolved loss among Italian nonclinical adults was noteworthy.

Attachment the Italian way : In search of specific patterns of infant and adult attachments in Italian typical and atypical samples

This study aims to explore whether a short-term and attachment-based video-feedback intervention, the Video-Feedback Intervention to Promote Positive Parenting With Discussions on the Representational Level (VIPP-R; F Juffer, MJ Bakermans-Kranenburg, & MH van IJzendoorn, 2008), might be effective in enhancing maternal sensitivity and in promoting infants' attachment security in an Italian sample of dyads with primiparous mothers Moreover, we explore whether the effectiveness of VIPP-R might be different for parents with insecure attachment representations who might be most in need of preventive intervention, as compared to parents who already have a more balanced and secure state of mind Thirty-two infants (40% female) and their mothers participated in the study The sample was divided into an intervention group (n = 16) and a comparison group (n = 16) At 6 and 13 months of age, the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI; M Main, N Kaplan, & J Cassidy, 1985) was administered Moreover, a 30-min mother-infant play situation was videotaped and coded for maternal sensitivity with the Emotional Availability Scales (Z Biringen, J Robinson, & RN Emde, 2000) At 13 months of age, the Strange Situation Procedure (MDS Ainsworth, MD Blehar, E Waters, & S Wall, 1978) was used to assess the security of mother-infant attachment Results revealed a significant interaction effect between intervention and AAI security for infant attachment security; moreover, main effects of AAI security and intervention for maternal sensitivity were found The VIPP-R appears effective in enhancing maternal sensitivity and infant attachment security, although only mothers with an insecure attachment representation may benefit from the intervention

Enhancing maternal sensitivity and infant attachment security with video feedback: an exploratory study in Italy.

This study investigated the role of security in one's attachment to God in relation to both secular and religious/spiritual ways of coping with a serious illness. The main objective was to test whether attachment to God and type of disease were related to secular coping strategies, when controlling for the effects of religious/spiritual coping. Study participants (N = 105) had been diagnosed either with cancer (i.e., an acute disease) and were under chemotherapy/awaiting surgery or with renal impairment (i.e., a chronic disease) and were attending dialysis. Results showed that secure attachment to God was uniquely related to fighting spirit, whereas insecure attachment to God was uniquely linked to hopelessness, suggesting that security, unlike insecurity, in one's attachment to God may impact favourably on adjustment to the disease. The only coping strategy related to type of disease was cognitive avoidance, which was linked to chronic disease.

The role of attachment to God in secular and religious/spiritual ways of coping with a serious disease

Sviluppo socio-emotivo e rischio psicosociale in eta scolare: il ruolo dell’attaccamento ABSTRACT: Children growing up in disadvantaged conditions are often exposed to other developmental risk, such as insecure attachment relationshipsThe effects of both social conditions and insecure attachment on socio-emotional infant development have been frequently studied. This study examined a sample of 65 children, including a group at psychosocial risk, compared to a control group, and confirms that they tend to be more insecure. The results also show that social conditions, the quality of the attachment bond and the gender of scholars have specific effects on several aspects of infant socio-emotional development and on the quality of their friendships. Keywords: psychosocial risk; attachment; socio-emotional development; friendship

Sviluppo socio-emotivo e rischio psicosociale in età scolare: il ruolo dell’attaccamento

RIASSUNTO: Obiettivo: In condizioni di disagio sociale, l’elevata incidenza di madri con attaccamento
insicuro e un fattore di rischio cumulativo per lo sviluppo del bambino e per la qualita della relazione di
attaccamento. L’intervento con videofeedback e discussione (VIPP-R) si propone di promuovere la sicurezza
dell’attaccamento madre-bambino, incrementando la coerenza mentale della madre rispetto all’attaccamento
e il suo comportamento sensibile nell’interazione col figlio. Metodo: Il presente studio e stato condotto
su un campione di 20 diadi madre-bambino a rischio psicosociale. Dodici diadi hanno ricevuto l’intervento
VIPP-R, mentre 8 costituiscono il gruppo di controllo. Risultati: I risultati, oltre a rilevare l’elevata
incidenza di attaccamento insicuro nelle madri che vivono in condizioni sociali svantaggiate, confermano
gli effetti dell’intervento su alcune dimensioni della sensibilita materna rilevate attraverso la codifica di interazioni madre-bambino videoregistrate nel contesto di casa. Conclusioni: Vengono presentate alcune considerazioni
sulla peculiarita del lavoro clinico con le diadi a rischio psicosociale che possono guidare la pianificazione
di programmi finalizzati ad offrire un sostegno alla genitorialita alle famiglie che si confrontano
con condizioni di vita avverse.

Elisabetta Costantino

Papers

Enhancing maternal sensitivity and infant attachment security with video feedback: an exploratory study in Italy.

The role of attachment to God in secular and religious/spiritual ways of coping with a serious disease

Sviluppo socio-emotivo e rischio psicosociale in età scolare: il ruolo dell’attaccamento

Intervento con video-feedback e discussione (VIPP-R) con diadi madre-bambino a rischio psicosociale