Attachment and Reflective Functioning in Anxious and Non-anxious Children: A Case-Controlled Study
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Attachment and Reflective Functioning in Anxious and Non-anxious Children: A Case-Controlled Study. / Breinholst, Sonja; Esbjorn, Barbara Hoff; Steele, Howard.
In: Journal of Child and Family Studies, Vol. 27, No. 8, 07.2018, p. 2622-2631.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Attachment and Reflective Functioning in Anxious and Non-anxious Children: A Case-Controlled Study
AU - Breinholst, Sonja
AU - Esbjorn, Barbara Hoff
AU - Steele, Howard
PY - 2018/7
Y1 - 2018/7
N2 - Anxiety is a prevalent psychiatric disorders. Theoretically, attachment insecurity is associated with the development of clinical anxiety. Few studies have examined this empirically. The current study investigates possible differences in attachment security and the related construct reflective functioning (Developmental Perspective, Theory of Mind, and Diversity of Feeling) in a case-controlled design between an index group of clinically anxious children (n = 111) and a control group of non-anxious children (n = 111) matched on age and gender. Clinical interviews established anxiety, attachment, and reflective functioning. No significant differences in attachment classification or Developmental Perspective emerged; however, index children had significantly poorer ratings on Theory of Mind and Diversity of Feeling. Insecure attachment might be a global risk factor rather than a risk factor for anxiety. Poorer scores on Theory of Mind and Diversity of Feeling might reflect genuinely lower abilities, or be results of the cognitive strategies applied by anxious children.
AB - Anxiety is a prevalent psychiatric disorders. Theoretically, attachment insecurity is associated with the development of clinical anxiety. Few studies have examined this empirically. The current study investigates possible differences in attachment security and the related construct reflective functioning (Developmental Perspective, Theory of Mind, and Diversity of Feeling) in a case-controlled design between an index group of clinically anxious children (n = 111) and a control group of non-anxious children (n = 111) matched on age and gender. Clinical interviews established anxiety, attachment, and reflective functioning. No significant differences in attachment classification or Developmental Perspective emerged; however, index children had significantly poorer ratings on Theory of Mind and Diversity of Feeling. Insecure attachment might be a global risk factor rather than a risk factor for anxiety. Poorer scores on Theory of Mind and Diversity of Feeling might reflect genuinely lower abilities, or be results of the cognitive strategies applied by anxious children.
KW - Anxiety
KW - Attachment
KW - Child development
KW - Case-controlled study
KW - Reflective functioning
U2 - 10.1007/s10826-018-1106-4
DO - 10.1007/s10826-018-1106-4
M3 - Journal article
VL - 27
SP - 2622
EP - 2631
JO - Journal of Child and Family Studies
JF - Journal of Child and Family Studies
SN - 1062-1024
IS - 8
ER -
ID: 209829583