Attachment in toddlers with autism and other developmental disorders.
Attachment was assessed in toddlers with Autistic Disorder (n=20), Pervasive Developmental Disorder (n=14), Mental Retardation (n=12), Language Development Disorder (n=16), and a non-clinical comparison group (n=18), using the Strange Situation Procedure (SSP). Children in the clinical groups were more often disorganized and less often securely attached. Severity of autism was associated with more attachment insecurity, and lower developmental level increased the chance for disorganized attachment. Attachment disorganization was related to increased heart rate during the SSP. Controlling for basal cortisol and developmental level, more autistic symptoms predicted lower cortisol responses to the SSP. The findings support the importance of disorganized attachment for children with autism.
Naber
Fabiënne B A
FB
Department of Education and Child Studies, Centre for Child and Family Studies, University of Leiden, P.O.Box 9555, 2300 RB, Leiden, The Netherlands. Fnaber@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
Swinkels
Sophie H N
SH
Buitelaar
Jan K
JK
Bakermans-Kranenburg
Marian J
MJ
van IJzendoorn
Marinus H
MH
Dietz
Claudine
C
van Daalen
Emma
E
van Engeland
Herman
H
D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D009769:Object Attachment; D012016:Reference Values; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012931:Social Environment
D006854:Hydrocortisone