Correlates of Attachment Perceptions in Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
This study explored the relationship between parents' perceptions of their child's attachment to them and parents' own affective attachment to their child, as well the relationship of these constructs to parenting stress, parent-rated child functional impairment, and parenting sense of competence. Mothers (n = 76) and fathers (n = 30) of children ages 2-10 with autism spectrum disorders participated. Overall, parents' affective attachment to their child was more consistently related to other aspects of their parenting experiences than were their perceptions of their child's attachment to them. Also, perceptions of child-to-parent attachment were related to other aspects of parenting for fathers more than for mothers. Implications for parenting interventions and future research, such as longitudinal investigations, are discussed.
Psychology Department, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, 10458, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1160 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
Sabrina J
SJ
Goodman
David S
DS
Glenwick
D000328:Adult; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult