Attachment theory and the adoption of children with special needs

Abstract

This study examines attachment theory as it relates to adopted children with special needs. One hundred ninety-seven parents who adopted children with special needs responded to a mailed questionnaire. Attachment was examined from two different theoretical perspectives: the social control perspective and the ethological perspective. Mistreatment history affects attachment from both perspectives. Physical or sexual abuse before adoptive placement is negatively associated with attachment as viewed from both perspectives. The strengths of association of many preplacement variables to level of attachment are generally quite modest. Implications of findings for practice and research are discussed.

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