Attachment Styles and Life Events: a Correlation Study Through Care-index.

Abstract

Introduction

The Dynamic-Maturational Model (DMM) (Crittenden, 2008) considers attachment as a selection process of external informations, especially from care givers, made by CNS. In the DMM, the variability of information processing is caused by the integration of cognitive and affective informations. This kind of integration leads to secure attachment; instead, a prevailing mode will lead to an avoidant attachment (“cognitive”) or ambivalent (“affective”), with potential clinical implications. CARE-Index analyses the interactions between children and adults before the structuring of attachment and the “dyadic sensitivity” (a dyadic construct composed of any behaviour pattern which pleases the child, increases his/her well-being and focus and reduces his/her discomfort and disengagement).

Aims

The aim of this study is to investigate the extent to which stressor life events of care givers can influence/change dyadic sensitivity and thus the structure of children attachment.

Methods

We will use a modified version of Social Readjustment Rating Scale (Holmes, 1967), which will be administered to 40 parents whose relationship with the child was assessed by CARE-Index. The changes made to the scale classify life events by type (Family, Personal, School) and age group in which the event occurred.

Results

We expect to find a correlation between stressful life events and specific patterns of attachment.

Conclusions

If this kind of correlation is detected, risk situations can be recognised and treated at an early stage.