Question
How is attachment theory applicable to social work interventions with children?
Answer
Attachment theory is a valuable framework for social work interventions with children, emphasizing the importance of secure relationships for healthy development. It provides insights into how children form emotional bonds and the impact of these bonds on their social and emotional well-being.
Application in Social Work Interventions
Enhancing Social and Emotional Development: Attachment-informed programs, such as the one implemented in Istanbul, have shown positive effects on children’s social and emotional development by creating secure environments where children can form stable relationships with caregivers or mentors (Bademci et al., 2020).
Interventions for At-Risk Populations: Attachment-based interventions are particularly effective for children of depressed parents, as they can foster secure attachments that lead to better social-emotional functioning in middle childhood (McMahon and Maxwell, 2020). These interventions are also used in foster and adoptive settings to improve attachment security and psychosocial adjustment (Dalgaard et al., 2020).
Family Therapy: In family interventions, attachment theory helps therapists understand family dynamics and address issues stemming from insecure attachments. Therapists act as a secure base, facilitating exploration and resolution of family problems (George and Aikins, 2023).
Challenges and Considerations: While attachment theory is widely used, its application can be inconsistent, with some social workers lacking a deep understanding of its principles. This can lead to arbitrary use of attachment concepts, which may not always be evidence-based (Bjerre, Madsen and Petersen, 2021). Additionally, the theory’s Eurocentric roots may not align with the cultural contexts of all populations, such as Indigenous communities, where communal caregiving systems are prevalent (Choate and Tortorelli, 2022).
Attachment theory is a crucial tool in social work, offering a framework for understanding and improving children’s social and emotional health through secure relationships. However, its application must be culturally sensitive and well-informed to be effective across diverse populations.
References
Bademci, H., Warfa, N., Bağdatlı-Vural, N., Karadayi, E., Yurt, S., & Karasar, Ş., 2020. Teachers’ perceptions of an attachment-informed psychosocial programme for schoolchildren with social and emotional problems in Istanbul, Turkey: theory & practice. Journal of Social Work Practice, 34, pp. 53 – 65. https://doi.org/10.1080/02650533.2019.1611550
McMahon, C., & Maxwell, A., 2020. Commentary on Guild et al. (2020): The Importance of Well-Designed Intervention Studies for Advancing Attachment Theory and its Clinical Applications. Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, 49, pp. 583 – 589. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-020-00702-y
George, C., & Aikins, J., 2023. Developing a secure base in family intervention: using the adult attachment projective system to assess attachment in family relationships. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1291661
Bjerre, L., Madsen, O., & Petersen, A., 2021. ‘But what are we doing to that baby?’ Attachment, psy-Speak and designed order in social work. European Journal of Social Work, 26, pp. 54 – 65. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691457.2020.1870439
Dalgaard, N., Pontoppidan, M., Thomsen, M., Viinholt, B., & Filges, T., 2020. PROTOCOL: Parenting interventions to support parent/child attachment and psychosocial adjustment in foster and adoptive parents and children: A systematic review. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 16. https://doi.org/10.1002/cl2.1072
Choate, P., & Tortorelli, C., 2022. Attachment Theory: A Barrier for Indigenous Children Involved with Child Protection. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148754
Berlin, L.J., Cassidy, J., Appleyard, K. (2008) “The Influence of Early Attachments on Other Relationships”. In Cassidy J, Shaver PR. Handbook of Attachment: Theory, Research and Clinical Applications (pp. 113-121). New York and London: Guilford Press.
Haltigan, J.D., Ekas, N.V., Seifer, R., Messinger, D.S. (2011) Attachment security in infants at-risk for autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism Spectrum Disorders. 41 (7): 962–967.
Howe, D. (2011) Attachment across the life course, London: Palgrave
Kobak, R. and Madsen, S. (2008) “Disruption in Attachment Bonds”. In Cassidy J, Shaver PR. Handbook of Attachment: Theory, Research and Clinical Applications (pp. 72-78). New York and London: Guilford Press.
Waters, E. and Cummings, E.M. (2000) A secure base from which to explore close relationships. Child Development. 71 (1): 164–72.
