title: Long-term effects on adult attachment in German occupation children born after World War II in comparison with a birth-cohort-matched representative sample of the German general population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Children born of war are a phenomenon of every conflict. At the end of World War II and thereafter, approximately 400,000 children were fathered by foreign soldiers and born to local women in Germany. Quantitative research on psychosocial consequences of growing up as German occupation child (GOC) has been missing so far.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study examines adult attachment and its association with current depression in GOC (N = 146) using self-report instruments: Adult Attachment Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire. Data were compared to a birth-cohort-matched representative sample of the German population (BCMS; N = 786).
  
  
  RESULTS
  GOC differ in both attachment dimensions (less comfortable with closeness/intimacy, lowered ability to depend on others) and adult attachment (more dismissive and fearful) compared to BCMS. Insecure adult attachment is associated with current depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GOC grew up under difficult circumstances (e.g. poverty, adverse events, and stigmatization). Even decades later they display more insecure attachment in current relationships. Findings underline the complex and long-term impact of their developmental conditions on attachment and current mental health.
authors: a Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology , Leipzig University , Leipzig , Germany.
authors: Marie
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7922-2244
authors: M
authors: Kaiser
authors: b Department of Psychiatry at the HELIOS Hanseklinikum Stralsund , University Medicine Greifswald , Greifswald , Germany.
authors: Philipp
authors: P
authors: Kuwert
authors: a Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology , Leipzig University , Leipzig , Germany.|c Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy , University Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz , Mainz , Germany.
authors: Elmar
authors: E
authors: Braehler
authors: a Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology , Leipzig University , Leipzig , Germany.
authors: Heide
authors: H
authors: Glaesmer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000069586:Adult Survivors of Child Adverse Events / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D011580:Psychological Techniques; D047789:World War II
keywords: Children born of war; adult attachment; children born of occupation; depression; life course