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Maternal Insightfulness and Resolution of the Diagnosis Are Associated With Secure Attachment in Preschoolers With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Author(s) -
Oppenheim David,
KorenKarie Nina,
Dolev Smadar,
Yirmiya Nurit
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2009.01276.x
Subject(s) - psychology , autism , developmental psychology , autism spectrum disorder , context (archaeology) , typically developing , clinical psychology , paleontology , biology
In the current study (a) maternal insightfulness into the experience of the child and (b) resolution with respect to the child’s diagnosis and their associations with children’s security of attachment were examined in a sample of 45 preschoolers (mean age = 49 months) with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). It was hypothesized that mothers who were insightful and resolved would be more likely to have securely attached children than mothers who were neither insightful nor resolved. The findings supported this hypothesis. The implications of insightfulness and resolution for child attachment in the context of ASD are discussed.