title: Enhancing attachment organization among maltreated children: results of a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: Young children who have experienced early adversity are at risk for developing disorganized attachments. The efficacy of Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC), an intervention targeting nurturing care among parents identified as being at risk for neglecting their young children, was evaluated through a randomized clinical trial. Attachment quality was assessed in the Strange Situation for 120 children between 11.7 and 31.9 months of age (M = 19.1, SD = 5.5). Children in the ABC intervention showed significantly lower rates of disorganized attachment (32%) and higher rates of secure attachment (52%) relative to the control intervention (57% and 33%, respectively). These results support the efficacy of the ABC intervention in enhancing attachment quality among parents at high risk for maltreatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA. kbernard@psych.udel.edu
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dozier
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bick
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lewis-Morrarty
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lindhiem
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carlson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004493:Education / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D019962:Reactive Attachment Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult