Effects of family risk on early attachment security: Gender-specific susceptibility and mediation by parenting behavior

Growing up in high-risk environments is detrimental to children’s development of attachment security. Parenting behavior is hypothesized to be the mechanism through which risks exert their influence. However, risk influences can vary between individuals by gender. Aim of this study was to explore specific pathways of family risk on early attachment security and additionally examine the transmission via parenting behavior. The sample consisted of 197 children and their primary caregivers. Children’s age ranged between 10 and 21 months ( M = 15.25, SD = 3.59). Data assessment included 21 distal and proximal family risk factors, children’s attachment security, and parental responsivity and supportive presence. Whereas distal risk factors had an adverse effect only on girls’ attachment security, proximal risks negatively affected only boys’ attachment security. Additionally, patterns of risk factors occurring in our sample were analyzed using an exploratory principal component analysis. Regardless of the child’s gender, a low socio- economic status was negatively related to attachment security of all children. Migration and crowding and a high emotional load of the primary caregiver both negatively predicted girls’ but not boys’ attachment security. However, the attachment security of boys was affected by a negative family climate. Most of the adverse risk effects on attachment security were mediated by parental responsivity and supportive presence so that the transmission of risk occurs through parenting behavior. Results revealed a different susceptibility of family risks for girls and boys. The consideration of a gender-sensitive approach in developmental psychopathology and interventions of developmental child welfare services is recommended.

Psychedelic Science of Spirituality and Religion: An Attachment-Informed Agenda Proposal

In this paper, we set an agenda for a psychedelic science of spirituality and religion, based on a synthesis of attachment theory with the Relaxed Beliefs Under pSychedelics (REBUS) model. Attachment theory proposes that people develop internal working models (IWMs) of interactions with others from their relational experiences with caregivers. Such IWMs then function as high-level priors enabling people, for better and for worse, to predict and organize their interpersonal and religious/spiritual relationships. One mechanism by which efficacious psychedelic interventions may work is by relaxing the grip of rigid, defensive priors (e.g., insecure IWMs with regard to others and God), further amplified by corrective relational experiences with the therapist, God, or others. We outline three key proposals to steer future research. First, individual differences in attachment security predict the phenomenology and integration of psychedelic experiences. Second, efficacious psychedelic therapy facilitates increased attachment security as a clinically relevant outcome. Third, attachment-related dynamics (e.g., a sense of connection to others and God, alleviation of attachment-related worries and defenses) are process-level mechanisms involved in the clinical utility of psychedelic treatment. Finally, we discuss the role of religion and spirituality in psychedelic experiences from an attachment perspective.

The attachment antecedents of shame: mothers’ representations of the shamed self

This study was designed to explore the intergenerational roots of shame in the context of attachment. The sample comprised sixty-nine mothers with four- and five-year-old children (54 girls, M = 58 months) drawn from a study of parenting risk. The mothers (age range 25–48) were culturally diverse, educated, partnered, and middle to upper-middle class. Mothers completed the Adult Attachment Projective (AAP) (George & West, 2012) and children completed the Attachment Doll Play Assessment (ADPA) (Solomon et al., 1995). The dyad was also videotaped interacting with a realistic baby doll and maternal behaviour was rated using Britner et al.’s (2005) maternal scales. The authors developed a coding system to capture three shame-related variables from mothers’ narratives of parent–child conflict in response to one of the AAP stimuli (Child in Corner): 1) evidence of shame; 2) parental socialisation actions; and 3) parental efforts to regulate the child’s shame. Results showed that three-quarters of mothers referred to implicit or explicit shame, but socialisation depicting shame was unrelated to child attachment security. Most mothers described harsh socialisation practices and incomplete efforts to repair the child’s shame. Only mothers of securely attached children described socialisation actions to emotionally repair the relationship. The shame measures were partially validated with the maternal parent–child interaction observation rating variables. The utility and limitations of the new measures are discussed in terms of their potential usefulness to research, clinical assessment, and treatment.

Psychedelic Science of Spirituality and Religion: An Attachment-Informed Agenda Proposal

In this paper, we set an agenda for a psychedelic science of spirituality and religion, based on a synthesis of attachment theory with the Relaxed Beliefs Under pSychedelics (REBUS) model. Attachment theory proposes that people develop internal working models (IWMs) of interactions with others from their relational experiences with caregivers. Such IWMs then function as high-level priors enabling people, for better and for worse, to predict and organize their interpersonal and religious/spiritual relationships. One mechanism by which efficacious psychedelic interventions may work is by relaxing the grip of rigid, defensive priors (e.g., insecure IWMs with regard to others and God), further amplified by corrective relational experiences with the therapist, God, or others. We outline three key proposals to steer future research. First, individual differences in attachment security predict the phenomenology and integration of psychedelic experiences. Second, efficacious psychedelic therapy facilitates increased attachment security as a clinically relevant outcome. Third, attachment-related dynamics (e.g., a sense of connection to others and God, alleviation of attachment-related worries and defenses) are process-level mechanisms involved in the clinical utility of psychedelic treatment. Finally, we discuss the role of religion and spirituality in psychedelic experiences from an attachment perspective.

TEORIA DO APEGO E MEDITAÇÃO DA (AUTO)COMPAIXÃO: COMO A SUA PRÁTICA PODE AFETAR A FORMA DE SE RELACIONAR COM O OUTRO?

Resumo: O presente artigo procura, por meio de uma revisão bibliográfica, entender se a prática da meditação da compaixão pode ser uma ferramenta útil para alcançar um estilo de apego seguro. A busca pelo último se justifica por corroborar com um indivíduo mais resiliente, explorador do mundo exterior, autoconfiante, complacente e prestativo em situações aflitivas, cooperativo e possuidor de ligações relacionais mais fortes. Em paralelo, têm-se os benefícios da prática da meditação da compaixão, que incluem o aumento da conexão social, a geração de diversas emoções positivas e a redução da evitação de pensamentos e/ou sentimentos difíceis. Vale ressaltar que lidar com as vivências subjetivamente classificadas como negativas impede seu acúmulo e, portanto, a multiplicação dessas sensações postas como indesejadas. Foram consultadas, nas plataformas Google Acadêmico, Portal do CAPES e Portal da Biblioteca PUC-Rio, em português e inglês, as expressões “meditação bondade amorosa e teoria do apego”, “meditação da compaixão e teoria do apego”, “compassion meditation and attachment theory” e “attachment security and meditation”. Não foram identificadas pesquisas associando, especificamente, meditação da compaixão e teoria do apego. Contudo, a hipótese de a primeira influenciar a última não foi refutada, tendo indícios de confirmação ainda insuficientes. A meditação é cientificamente respaldada e estudada, porém possui pesquisas iniciadas recentemente, que não exploraram integralmente o assunto, sendo recomendáveis estudos experimentais e nos moldes científicos, para maior validação da prática e seus benefícios. Dentre eles, incluem-se as interseções e interferências entre meditação da compaixão e estilo de apego seguro.Palavras-chave: Meditação. Compaixão. Autocompaixão. Teoria do apego. Abstract: This paper seeks, through a bibliographic review, to understand whether the practice of compassion meditation can be a useful tool to achieve a secure attachment style. The search for the latter is justified by corroborating with a more resilient individual, explorer of the outside world, self-confident, complacent and helpful in distressing situations, cooperative and possessing stronger relational connections. In parallel, there are the benefits of practicing compassion meditation, which include increasing social connection, generating several positive emotions and reducing avoidance of difficult thoughts and/or feelings. The Google Scholar platforms, CAPES Portal and PUC-Rio Library Portal were consulted, in Portuguese and English, the expressions “loving kindness meditation and attachment theory”, “compassion meditation and attachment theory”, “compassion meditation and attachment theory” and “attachment security and meditation”. No research has been identified specifically associating compassion meditation and attachment theory. However, the hypothesis of the former influencing the latter has not been refuted, and there is still insufficient evidence of confirmation. The practice of meditation is scientifically supported and studied, but it has recently started research, which has not fully explored the subject, being interesting experimental and scientific studies to further validate the practice and its benefits. These studies include the intersections and interferences between compassionate meditation and secure attachment style.Keywords: Meditation. Compassion. Self-compassion. Attachment theory.

Changes in children’s attachment security to mother and father after the birth of a sibling: Risk and resilience in the family

Changes in children’s attachment security to mother and father were examined for 230 firstborn children (M = 31.17 months), their mothers and fathers participating in a longitudinal investigation starting in the last trimester of the mothers’ pregnancy and 1, 4, 8, and 12 months after the birth of an infant sibling. Both parents completed the Attachment Q-set at prenatal, 4, and 12 months. Growth mixture models revealed four latent classes in which children’s attachments were (a) both secure with a modest decline to both parents (68.3%); (b) more secure with father than mother with a steep decline for both (12.6%); (c) both insecure with no change (10%); and (d) more secure with mother than father with a modest increase for both (9.1%). Multi-group latent growth curve analyses revealed that parenting and coparenting differed across families. Children had lower externalizing behavior problems in families with two secure attachments than in families with one secure attachment, either to mother or to father, who, in turn, had fewer problems than children with two insecure attachments. Findings underscore the strengths of a family systems framework to understand attachment relationships with multiple caregivers and the family risks and protective factors that covary with children’s behavioral adjustment after the birth of a sibling.

Adolescent Attachment Profiles Are Associated With Mental Health and Risk-Taking Behavior

This person-oriented study aimed to identify adolescents’ hierarchical attachment profiles with parents and peers, and to analyze associations between the profiles and adolescent psychosocial adjustment. Participants were 449 Finnish 17–19-year-olds reporting their attachments to mother, father, best friend, and romantic partner and details on mental health (internalizing symptoms, inattention/hyperactivity, and anger control problems) and risk-taking behavior (substance use and sexual risk-taking). Attachment was measured with Experiences in Close Relationships – Relationship Structures (ECR-RS); internalizing, inattention/hyperactivity, and anger control problems with Self-Report of Personality — Adolescent (SRP—A) of the Behavior Assessment System for Children, third edition (BASC-3); substance use with the Consumption scale of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C) and items from the Finnish School Health Promotion Study; and sexual risk-taking behavior with the Cognitive Appraisal of Risky Events (CARE). Latent profile analysis identified five attachment profiles: “All secure” (39%), “All insecure” (11%), “Parents insecure – Peers secure” (21%), “Parents secure – Friend insecure” (10%), and “Parents secure – Partner insecure” (19%). “All insecure” adolescents showed the highest and “All secure” adolescents the lowest levels of mental health problems and substance use. Further, parental attachment security seemed to specifically prevent substance use and anger control problems, while peer attachment security prevented internalizing problems. Our findings help both understand the organization of attachment hierarchies in adolescence and refine the role of specific attachment relationships in psychosocial adjustment, which can be important for clinical interventions in adolescence.