Attachment Behaviours and Parent-Child Interaction

Clare Harrop, L. Blazey, K. Leadbitter, C. Holt, J. Green

Research output: Contribution to conferencePoster

Abstract

Autism is characterised by profound impairments in social interactions, coupled with communication and language difficulties. However evidence suggests that the formation of secure attachments is relatively unaffected. Attachment and parental sensitivity have both been strongly implemented in the social and cognitive development of typically developing children; however few studies extend this to children with autism. Likewise the dyadic construct of mutuality is theorised to directly link to language development, however to date has not been studied in children with autism. Objectives: To examine how attachment security, parental sensitivity and mutuality relate to verbal abilities in children with autism.Method: Baseline data from 27 children with autism (mean age = 46 months, SD = 7.83) participating in the Pre-school Autism Communication Trial (PACT, www.manchester.ac.uk/medicine/pact) was examined and compared with data from 24 typically-developing children (mean age = 23 months, SD = 6.50) group-matched on non-verbal ability. Both groups participated in a video-recorded free-play session with their parents. A ten minute sample of the play session was coded using a modified version of Coding of Attachment-Related Parenting. Attachment security was measured using the Brief Attachment Screening Questionnaire. Expressive and receptive language was measured using the Preschool Language Scales.Results:In the autism group attachment security was not associated with either expressive or receptive language level. Associations between expressive language, affect and sensitivity approached but failed to reach conventional significance. Mutuality was significantly associated with expressive language, and approached significance with receptive abilities.In controls mutuality was associated with receptive language abilitiesConclusionsAttachment and parental sensitivity did not relate to language abilities in children with autism. Mutuality however correlated with expressive abilities. Attachment security and parental sensitivity may not facilitate language development in autism, whereas mutuality maybe more representative of a dyadic relationship not captured by ratings of attachment and sensitivity.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 2008
EventInternational Meeting For Autism Research - London, UK
Duration: 8 May 200810 May 2008

Conference

ConferenceInternational Meeting For Autism Research
CityLondon, UK
Period8/05/0810/05/08

Keywords

  • Autism
  • Attachment
  • Parent-child interaction

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