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Preventive interventions and sustained attachment security in maltreated children

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 November 2013

Erin Pickreign Stronach ,
Sheree L. Toth ,
Fred Rogosch  and
Dante Cicchetti
Erin Pickreign Stronach*
Affiliation:
Mt. Hope Family Center, University of Rochester
Sheree L. Toth*
Affiliation:
Mt. Hope Family Center, University of Rochester
Fred Rogosch
Affiliation:
Mt. Hope Family Center, University of Rochester
Dante Cicchetti
Affiliation:
Mt. Hope Family Center, University of Rochester Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Erin Pickreign Stronach, Mt. Hope Family Center, University of Rochester, 187 Edinburgh Street, Rochester, NY 14608; erin_stronach@urmc.rochester.edu; or Sheree L. Toth, Mt. Hope Family Center, University of Rochester, 187 Edinburgh Street, Rochester, NY 14608; sheree_toth@urmc.rochester.edu.
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Erin Pickreign Stronach, Mt. Hope Family Center, University of Rochester, 187 Edinburgh Street, Rochester, NY 14608; erin_stronach@urmc.rochester.edu; or Sheree L. Toth, Mt. Hope Family Center, University of Rochester, 187 Edinburgh Street, Rochester, NY 14608; sheree_toth@urmc.rochester.edu.
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Abstract

Thirteen-month-old maltreated infants (n = 137) and their mothers were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: child–parent psychotherapy (CPP), psychoeducational parenting intervention (PPI), or community standard (CS). A fourth group of nonmaltreated infants (n = 52) and their mothers served as a nonmaltreated comparison (NC) group. A prior investigation found that the CPP and the PPI groups demonstrated substantial increases in secure attachment at postintervention, whereas this change was not found in the CS and the NC groups. The current investigation involved the analysis of data obtained at a follow-up assessment that occurred 12 months after the completion of treatment. At follow-up, children in the CPP group had higher rates of secure and lower rates of disorganized attachment than did children in the PPI or the CS group. Rates of disorganized attachment did not differ between the CPP and the NC groups. Intention to treat analyses also showed higher rates of secure attachment at follow-up in the CPP group relative to the PPI and the CS groups. However, groups did not differ on disorganized attachment. Both primary and intention to treat analyses demonstrated that maternal-reported child behavior problems did not differ among the four groups at the follow-up assessment. This is the first investigation to demonstrate sustained attachment security in maltreated children 12 months after the completion of an attachment theory informed intervention. The findings also suggest that, although effective in the short term, parenting interventions alone may not be effective in maintaining secure attachment in children over time.

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Regular Articles
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Development and Psychopathology , Volume 25 , Issue 4pt1 , November 2013 , pp. 919 - 930
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Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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