title: EFFICACY OF THE 20-WEEK CIRCLE OF SECURITY INTERVENTION: CHANGES IN CAREGIVER REFLECTIVE FUNCTIONING, REPRESENTATIONS, AND CHILD ATTACHMENT IN AN AUSTRALIAN CLINICAL SAMPLE.
abstract: Circle of Security is an attachment theory based intervention that aims to promote secure parent-child attachment relationships. Despite extensive uptake of the approach, there is limited empirical evidence regarding efficacy. The current study examined whether participation in the 20-week Circle of Security intervention resulted in positive caregiver-child relationship change in four domains: caregiver reflective functioning; caregiver representations of the child and the relationship with the child; child attachment security, and attachment disorganization. Archived pre- and postintervention data were analyzed from 83 clinically referred caregiver-child dyads (child age: 13-88 months) who completed the Circle of Security intervention in sequential cohorts and gave permission for their data to be included in the study. Caregivers completed the Circle of Security Interview, and dyads were filmed in the Strange Situation Procedure before and after the intervention. Results supported all four hypotheses: Caregiver reflective functioning, caregiving representations, and level of child attachment security increased after the intervention, and level of attachment disorganization decreased for those with high baseline levels. Those whose scores were least optimal prior to intervention showed the greatest change in all domains. This study adds to the evidence suggesting that the 20-week Circle of Security intervention results in significant relationship improvements for caregivers and their children.
authors.affiliation: Macquarie University.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.affiliation: Macquarie University.
authors.forename: Catherine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.affiliation: Macquarie University.
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sweller
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Bindung; Cerce de Sécurité; Circle of Security; Círculo de Seguridad; Kreis der Sicherheit; Mentalisierungsfähigkeit; afectividad; attachement; attachment; elterliche Repräsentationen; fonctionnement réfléchi; funcionamiento reflexivo; parent representations; reflective functioning; representaciones del progenitor; représentations parentales; リフレクティブな機能; 依附關係; 反思功能; 安全圈; 安心感の輪; 家長陳述; 愛着; 親の表象