Factores de riesgo de maltrato y representaciones de apego en niños que viven en una residencia de protección a la infancia / Factors de risc de maltractament i representacions d’aferrament en nens que viuen en una residència de protecció a la infància / Abuse risk factors and attachment representations in children living in a child protection residence

Se estudian las representaciones de apego de 65 niños de tres a seis años que han sufrido abuso emocional y/o negligencia y que viven en una residencia de protección. Se explora la relación entre el maltrato y el apego del niño y cómo median los factores de riesgo de la madre en esta relación. Se evidencia que el maltrato, cuando tiene lugar junto con una acumulación de factores de riesgo y, en particular, con violencia de género, problemas de salud mental y de adicción, disminuye la seguridad en el apego y aumenta la desorganización.(AU)

The attachment representations of 65 children aged from three to six years who have suffered emotional abuse and/ or neglect and who live in a protective residence are studied. The relationship between maltreatment and child attachment and how maternal risk factors mediate this relationship is explored. It is shown that maltreatment, when coupled with an accumulation of risk factors and, in particular, gender-based violence, mental health, and addiction problems, decreases attachment security and increases disorganization.(AU)

S’estudien les representacions d’aferrament de 65 nens de tres a sis anys que han patit abús emocional i/o negligència i que viuen en una residència de protecció. S'explora la relació entre el maltractament i l’aferrament del nen i com intervenen els factors de risc de la mare en aquesta relació. S’evidencia que el maltractament, quan té lloc juntament amb una acumulació de factors de risc i, en particular, amb violència de gènere, problemes de salut mental i d’addicció, disminueix la seguretat a l’aferrament i augmenta la desorganització.(AU)

Attachment representations and socio-emotional difficulties in alternative care: A comparison between residential, foster and family based children in Chile.

Attachment has been assessed in children living in alternative care (AC) settings, such as Residential Homes (RC) and Foster Care (FC). However, no study has been conducted to compare attachment styles in residential, foster and parental care conducted as usual in the same country at the same point in time. There is also a lack of studies conducted in less developed countries. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare outcomes for children living in three different types of care in Chile. Three groups of children (N=77), living in (RC), (FC) and with biological parents (PC) were compared. Attachment styles, Indiscriminate Friendliness (IF) and socio-emotional/behavioral difficulties were assessed. Higher rates of secure attachment were observed in the RC group (36.1%) when compared to studies in RC in other countries (mean 18%). However, children in both types of AC were significantly more likely to have insecure and/or disorganized attachment styles than PC children. Higher rates of socio-emotional and behavioral problems were observed in RC (55.6%) and FC (50%) compared to PC (10%). Within type of AC, no significant differences were found, for attachment styles or for socio-emotional/behavioral difficulties, the only difference were the levels of IF, with children in RC having higher levels. As a conclusion, impact of placement in AC can vary between different countries, other factors, rather than only type of AC could better explain differences in attachment security for children. Implications for research and practices are discussed.