ATTACHMENT AND CHILD ABUSE

Abstract

In crisis situations, younger children typically seek to achieve a sense of security by approaching an attachment figure. In instances of child abuse by a principal caregiver, however, a child is doubly impacted by both the trauma and the loss of an attachment figure who should have protected the child.

Abused children who have difficulty developing attachments tend to be less capable of appropriate expression and control of their emotions, with a tendency to exhibit increased incidence of violent behavior and social withdrawal. Moreover, abused children often come to manifest problems with interpersonal relationships in general-loss of the sense of security and trust as the result of abuse often hampering subsequent re-establishment of attachments.

Recent studies indicate that interventions to increase the sensitivity of caregivers are the most effective in repairing attachments. According to the studies, effective interventions are focused, with clear goals, and specified limited time. As diagnosis of PTSD in abused infants and toddlers is not easy, familiarity with the manifestations of trauma-related symptoms in younger children is essential for providing adequate care and support to abused children and their families from the dual perspectives of attachment and trauma.