Changing toddlers' and preschoolers' attachment classifications: The circle of security intervention.

Abstract

The Circle of Security intervention uses a group treatment modality to provide parent education and psychotherapy that is based on attachment theory. The purpose of this study was to track changes in children's attachment classifications pre- and immediately postintervention. Participants were 65 toddler- or preschooler- caregiver dyads recruited from Head Start and Early Head Start programs. As predicted, there were significant within-subject changes from disorganized to organized attachment classifications, with a majority changing to the secure classification. In addition, only 1 of the 13 preintervention securely attached children shifted to an insecure classification. Results suggest that the Circle of Security protocol is a promising intervention for the reduction of disorganized and insecure attachment in high-risk toddlers and preschoolers.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Children and Adolescents: Can Attachment Theory Contribute to Its Efficacy?

“…In contrast, evidence shows that interventions can effectively promote parenting behaviours like sensitive parenting that are considered critical for a secure attachment development (Verhage et al 2016). Examples are the Video-Feedback Intervention to Promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline (VIPP-SD; Alink et al 2006), the Circle of Security (Hoffman et al 2006), or the Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT; Chaffin et al 2004). These interventions are designed like other CBT-like PFTs and have small to medium effect sizes on parenting behaviours and symptoms of psychopathology of the child.…”

“…At this age, parents are a secure base if they responsively provide proximity and support for basic biological needs such as food to overcome hunger, or comfort for pain and fears (Bowlby 1969). Additionally, it is important that parents can express that they experience joy when they see their children play and explore (Hoffman et al 2006). In summary, early in life, children's use of the parent as a safe haven and children's attachment development depend mainly on parents' ability to respond to children's needs and less on children's characteristics (Vaughn et al 2008).…”

Improving Outcomes for Children Exposed to Violence: Safe Start Promising Approaches

“…For example, the Strengthening Families Program (SFP) has received mixed support for improving family environment (Molgaard and Spoth, 2001;Riesch et al, 2012); whereas Circle of Security (COS), an intervention designed to promote parent-child attachment, has demonstrated improvements only in a few small studies to date (Hoffman et al, 2006;Cassidy, Ziv, et al, 2010;Cassidy, Woodhouse, et al, 2011). Some other approaches have been evaluated only in open trials, including the Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency (ARC) model (Arvidson et al, 2011;Hodgdon, Kinniburgh, et al, 2013) and Strengthening Family Coping Resources (SFCR) (Kiser, Donohue, et al, 2010;Kiser, Backer, et al, 2015).…”

Attachment processes in Early Head Start families

“…For example, relatively little is known about parents' attachment security at program intake, about children's attachment security at program completion, or about attachment-relevant mediators or moderators of program effects. (For some important inroads into these topics, see Hoffman, Marvin, Cooper, & Powell, 2006;Robinson & Emde, 2004;Spieker, Nelson, DeKlyen, & Staerkel, 2005. ) This Special Issue of Attachment & Human Development was assembled to address such issues.…”

“…The latest attachment theory, research, and evidence-based attachment interventions can and should be increasingly leveraged to inform Early Head Start and home visiting services (Berlin, Zeanah, & Lieberman, 2008). For example, programs might conduct brief assessments of mothers' attachment styles at enrollment, and use these assessments to inform program approaches; and/or incorporate brief theory-and research-based intervention protocol to support infant-caregiver attachment security (e.g., Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-Up [Dozier, Peloso, Lewis, Laurenceau, & Levine, 2008], the Circle of Security [Hoffman et al, 2006]). Such innovations, though potentially challenging to implement, are also potentially rich in rewards.…”