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International journal of environmental research and public health
04 13, 2022;19 (8):

Emotional Availability in Mother-Child and Father-Child Interactions as Predictors of Child's Attachment Representations in Adoptive Families.

Ana Susana Almeida, Jean-Christophe Giger, Sandra Mendonça, Marina Fuertes, Cristina Nunes
Author Information
  1. Ana Susana Almeida: Psychology Research Centre (CIP) & Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
  2. Jean-Christophe Giger: Psychology Research Centre (CIP) & Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
  3. Sandra Mendonça: CDI.UP-Cooperativa de Desenvolvimento Infantil e União Parental, CRL, 8125-196 Quarteira, Portugal. ORCID
  4. Marina Fuertes: Centro de Psicologia da Universidade do Porto (CPUP) & Escola Superior de Educação (ESELX-IPL), Campus de Benfica do IPL, 1549-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
  5. Cristina Nunes: Psychology Research Centre (CIP) & Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal. ORCID
PMID: 35457588 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19084720

Abstract

Emotional availability (EA) in parent-child interactions is associated with positive child outcomes, including attachment security. However, little is known about EA in adoptive families. This study investigated the associations between secure representations of attachment in adopted children and the adoptive parents' EA. The participants ( = 75) included 26 mothers, 23 fathers, and 26 children who were aged 3 to 9 years. Children completed the Attachment Story Completion Task. Adult-child dyadic relationships were assessed using the EA System. The results showed that the children's and parents' EA, age when adopted, and time elapsed since adoption were associated with more secure children's attachment representations. Implications for family support and public policy are discussed.

Keywords

adoption adult-child interactions emotional availability secure attachment representations

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MeSH Term

Adult
Emotions
Father-Child Relations
Fathers
Female
Humans
Male
Mother-Child Relations
Object Attachment
Parent-Child Relations
Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Word Cloud

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