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Attachment Styles in Maltreated Children: A Comparative Study

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Abstract

The study compares the emotional impact of maltreatment on the attachment styles in three groups of children aged 6–12 years: children of drug-user fathers (n = 76), physically abused children (n = 41), neglected children (n = 38); non-abused/non-neglected children (n = 35)—control group. The secure style characterized 52% of the children of drug-user fathers and the insecure style characterized the other 48% (anxious/ambivalent or avoidant); physically abused children were characterized mainly by the avoidant attachment style, and neglected children by the anxious/ambivalent style. The conclusion is that physically abused children are at risk of antisocial behavior and sustained suspicion towards others; neglected children are at risk of social withdrawal, social rejection and feelings of incompetence, and children of drug-user fathers may be at risk of behavioral problems and drug use in adolescence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geha Psychiatric Hospital. Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel

    Ricky Finzi

  2. Tel Aviv University, Israel

    Orna Cohen

  3. Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Israel

    Yafa Sapir

  4. Geha Psychiatric Hospital. Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Tel Aviv University, Israel

    Abraham Weizman

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  1. Ricky Finzi
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Finzi, R., Cohen, O., Sapir, Y. et al. Attachment Styles in Maltreated Children: A Comparative Study. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 31, 113–128 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1001944509409

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