Attachment behavior in children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders
| Published date | 02 March 2015 |
| Date | 02 March 2015 |
| Pages | 79-89 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-06-2014-0026 |
| Author | Lital Kahane,Mohamed El-Tahir |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Learning & intellectual disabilities,Accounting education |
Attachment behavior in children with
Autistic Spectrum Disorders
Lital Kahane and Mohamed El-Tahir
Lital Kahane is an Assistant
Psychologist, based at Institute
of Psychological Medicine &
Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff
University, Cardiff, UK.
Dr Mohamed El-Tahir is a
Consultant Psychiatrist, based
at Llwyneryr Unit, Abertawe
Bro Morgannwg University
Health Board, Swansea, UK.
Abstract
Purpose – Significance of attachment relationship to the development and impairments among children
with autism has been studied. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the literature for studies completed on
the attachment and assess the effect of autism on attachment development. Different moderators of
attachment are also reviewed.
Design/methodology/approach – Systematic reviews were searched for in different databases to
establish the necessity and relevance of the current paper. The last systematic review on the topic was
published in 2004 so studies done after that year were searched for in electronic databases and experts on
the filed were also contacted before choosing the ten studies selected for this review.
Findings – Attachment is present among children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD), however not
prevalent as in normally developing children. The security and organization of attachment behavior are
affected by the severity of the diagnosis of Autism and the co-morbidities associated. Maternal sensitivity
and insightfulness support the development of secure attachment in children with ASD while impairments in
joint attention and symbolic play proved to be risk factors for insecurity and disorganization of attachment.
Originality/value – The review contributes to the relatively understudied topic of attachment behavior in
autism spectrum disorders focussing on the influence brought to the bonding connection by different
influencing factors like: mothers’ sensitivity, insightfulness and attachment style, parenting style and
symbolic play levels.
Keywords Sensitivity, Attachement, Autism, Insightfullness, Mother, Parental
Paper type Literaturereview
Introduction
Attachment is an important factor in the child’s normal social and psychological development.
Research suggests that it has greater impact on children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders
(ASD) due to the impairment of their affection and bonding with parents that in turn will affect the
child’s future social relationships and overall development.
In the last 20 years, research findings concluded that attachment is compatible with autism;
however children with ASD show different attachment behaviors and many factors may
influence the outcome of the bonding with their parents.
Parents’response to the diagnosisand the other impairments seen inthis disorder on attachment
behavior of children with ASD may offer better understanding of the problem with their social
interactions which also influences their long term cognitive and psychological development.
Previous review by Rutgers et al. (2004) focussed on the distribution of attachment classification
in samples of children with autism and on three main moderators: mental development,
chronological age and diagnostic criteria. Due to an insufficient number of studies reporting
on disorganized attachment the authors concluded that it cannot be established if this is an
over-representation in children with autism. It was hypothesized that sensitive parents are able
to promote secure attachment with their children with autism and this may function as a
DOI 10.1108/AMHID-06-2014-0026 VOL. 9 NO. 2 2015, pp. 79-89, CEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2044-1282
j
ADVANCES IN MENTAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
j
PAGE 79
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