Attachment disorganization among children in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Preliminary results.
BACKGROUND
Preterm children have been reported to be at higher risk to develop attachment insecurity.


OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to investigate potential differences in attachment security between newborns who were sent to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and those who were not, in a population of full-term children.


METHODS
Participants (162 mother-child dyads) were part of a longitudinal study (MAVAN). Twenty-three of these children received special care at birth (NICU group). Attachment security was assessed at 36 months with the Strange Situation Procedure. Socio-economic status (SES), birth weight, maternal mood, maternal sensitivity, mental/psychomotor developmental indexes, Apgar scores, presence of complications during delivery and infant general health were assessed.


RESULTS
In the No-NICU group, 55.4% of children were securely attached, 24.5% were insecure and 20.1% were disorganized. However, in the NICU group, 43.5% of children were securely attached, 8.7% were insecure and 47.8% were disorganized (χ(2)=9.0; p=.01). The only differences between the 2 groups were a lower Apgar, more respiratory infections and more visits to walk-in clinic/hospital (p's<.05) and a trend for lower SES and more ear infections in the NICU group. Logistic regressions revealed an odds ratio of 6.1 (p=.003) of developing a disorganized attachment after a stay in NICU, when controlling for these confounding variables.


CONCLUSIONS
Newborns who were admitted to NICU have an odds ratio of about 6 to develop a disorganized attachment at 36 months. These preliminary results support the importance of supportive parental proximity and contact with the infant in the NICU and possible after-care.
Ludmer Center for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, McGill University, Hôpital Douglas, Projet MAVAN, Bureau E-4107, 6875 Boulevard Lsalle, Verdun H4H 1R3, Canada.
Marie-Hélène
MH
Pennestri
Ludmer Center for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, McGill University, Hôpital Douglas, Projet MAVAN, Bureau E-4107, 6875 Boulevard Lsalle, Verdun H4H 1R3, Canada.
Hélène
H
Gaudreau
Ludmer Center for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, McGill University, Hôpital Douglas, Projet MAVAN, Bureau E-4107, 6875 Boulevard Lsalle, Verdun H4H 1R3, Canada.
Andrée-Anne
AA
Bouvette-Turcot
Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888 Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal H3C 3P8, Canada.
Ellen
E
Moss
Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888 Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal H3C 3P8, Canada.
Vanessa
V
Lecompte
Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto M5B 2K3, Canada.
Leslie
L
Atkinson
Department of Psychology, McGill University, Stewart Biology Building, 1205 Dr. Penfield Avenue, Montreal H3A 1B1, Canada.
John
J
Lydon
St. Joseph's Hospital, Hamilton L8N 4A6, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McMaster University, 50 Charlton Ave. E., Hamilton L8N 4A6, Canada.
Meir
M
Steiner
Ludmer Center for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, McGill University, Hôpital Douglas, Projet MAVAN, Bureau E-4107, 6875 Boulevard Lsalle, Verdun H4H 1R3, Canada.
Michael J
MJ
Meaney
D000328:Adult; D001034:Apgar Score; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000523:psychology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009769:Object Attachment; D016017:Odds Ratio; D013315:Stress, Psychological
Attachment; Child development; Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; Neonate