Analyzing Interview Transcripts on Caregivers of Children With Reactive Attachment Disorder

Baumgart, Abby; Peoples, Katarzyna

doi:10.4135/9781529763768

Cited by 1 publication

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“…The limited research on parents' experiences of their children's attachment difficulties has focused on adopted children. Such studies reported that their child's attachment-related disruptive behaviour destabilised the parents' confidence in parenting (Follan & McNamara, 2014), and led to a barrage of negative feelings, including feeling judged, unsupported and unprepared (Beek, 1999), and relational strain in the wider family (Baumgart, 2020). Studies of parental responses to receiving a diagnosis for childhood disorders, such as autism or a chronic health condition, also commonly report strong emotional reactions, including disbelief, guilt and responsibility (Ashtiani et al, 2014;Fletcher, 2016;Smith-Young et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Navigating their child’s attachment-related difficulties: Parents’ journey from shame into awareness

Crompton

Wan

Dewan

et al. 2022

Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry

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Attachment-related difficulties frequently present in child and adolescent clinical services. Yet how parents engage with being informed of their child’s attachment-related difficulties is little understood. In this qualitative study, ten parents with a birth child with attachment-related difficulties, as informed by a relevant service, and six healthcare professionals, were interviewed. The aim was to explore both perspectives on how parents experienced and engaged with this process, of their understanding of the child’s difficulties and the supports they engaged with. Using grounded theory, the parental journey from shame to awareness is described, based around four main themes: failing as a parent, the process of making sense, a call to action, and awareness of attachment and interrelated difficulties. The intensity of shame and defensive processes felt by parents came through strongly in narratives, forming a key barrier to sense-making and action, while specific clinical, personal and support/resource characteristics facilitated progress. The findings highlight how parents can be better supported into a space of attachment-related awareness and understanding, which may in turn facilitate more positive outcomes for the child. The study also raises wide ranging implications relevant to all involved in the investment, planning and delivery of care for this client group.

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