TY - JOUR
T1 - Mothers of securely attached children with autism spectrum disorder are more sensitive than mothers of insecurely attached children
AU - Koren-Karie, Nina
AU - Oppenheim, David
AU - Dolev, Smadar
AU - Yirmiya, Nurit
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - In the current study we examined the links between maternal sensitivity and children's secure attachment in a sample of 45 preschool-age boys with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). We hypothesized that mothers of securely attached children would be more sensitive to their children than mothers of insecurely attached children. Children's attachment was assessed using Ainsworth's Strange Situation Procedure (SSP; Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978). Mothers' sensitivity and children's responsiveness to their mothers were assessed using the Emotional Availability Scales (Biringen, Robinson, & Emde, 1993). The findings supported our hypothesis: mothers of securely attached children were more sensitive to their children even when controlling for the severity of children's diagnosis (Autism Disorder vs. Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)), children's level of functioning (high vs. low), and children's levels of responsiveness. The significance of sensitivity for security of attachment in ASD and the implications of these findings for the validity of the SSP in children with ASD are discussed.
AB - In the current study we examined the links between maternal sensitivity and children's secure attachment in a sample of 45 preschool-age boys with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). We hypothesized that mothers of securely attached children would be more sensitive to their children than mothers of insecurely attached children. Children's attachment was assessed using Ainsworth's Strange Situation Procedure (SSP; Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978). Mothers' sensitivity and children's responsiveness to their mothers were assessed using the Emotional Availability Scales (Biringen, Robinson, & Emde, 1993). The findings supported our hypothesis: mothers of securely attached children were more sensitive to their children even when controlling for the severity of children's diagnosis (Autism Disorder vs. Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)), children's level of functioning (high vs. low), and children's levels of responsiveness. The significance of sensitivity for security of attachment in ASD and the implications of these findings for the validity of the SSP in children with ASD are discussed.
KW - Attachment
KW - Autistic disorder
KW - Maternal sensitivity
KW - Parent-child interaction
KW - Parent-child relationships
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=68849126017&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2008.02043.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2008.02043.x
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C2 - 19207630
AN - SCOPUS:68849126017
SN - 0021-9630
VL - 50
SP - 643
EP - 650
JO - Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines
JF - Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines
IS - 5
ER -