Browsing by Subject "Adoption."
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Item Caregiver attachment representations and caregiver-child interactions in adoptive and foster dyads.(2013-09-24) McGowan, Faith Perez.; Benedict, Helen Elizabeth, 1946-; Psychology and Neuroscience.; Baylor University. Dept. of Psychology and Neuroscience.The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between child-specific caregiver attachment representations as measured by the Working Model of the Child Interview (WMCI) and the quality of caregiver-child interactions using the Marschak Interaction Method (MIM) in a sample of adopted and foster children (aged 2 ½-9) and their caregivers. Attachment theory suggests that caregiver representations are the driving force for caregiver-child interactions and attachment security in both biologically related and adoptive caregiver-child dyads. Caregiver attachment representations (Balanced, Disengaged, and Distorted) as measured by the WMCI were hypothesized to correspond with the quality of parent-child interaction ratings on the MIM, coded using the Marschak Interaction Method Behavioral Rating System (MIMBRS). One-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, and post-hoc analyses were completed to distinguish differences in scores between WMCI classifications and three MIMBRS scales (Parent Behavior, Child Behavior, Overall Summary), as well as three MIMBRS subscales (Dyad Social Involvement, Child Task Focus, and Child Facial Expression/Affect). Caregivers classified as Balanced displayed higher quality parent attachment behaviors than caregivers classified as Disengaged; however, parent behavior ratings did not differ between Balanced and Distorted caregivers. Overall attachment behaviors (summing Parent Behavior, Child Behavior, and Dyad Behavior), child attachment behaviors (including task-oriented and affect-oriented behaviors), and dyadic behaviors (social involvement) were not significantly related to caregiver representations. Using exploratory analyses, caregiver-child dyads displayed more optimal dyadic interaction behaviors when the caregiver was classified as Balanced in comparison to dyads where the caregiver was classified as Nonbalanced (Detached or Distorted). Additionally, adoptive dyads scored significantly higher than foster dyads on the Parent Behavior, Dyad Behavior, and overall attachment behavior ratings. This study underscores the relationship between caregiver representations and caregiving behavior for adoptive and foster caregiver-child dyads, with variability in attachment between adoptive and foster dyads.Item Correspondence between caregiver relationship-specific attachment representations and child attachment representations in adoptive dyads.(2010-10-08T16:16:29Z) Dean, Grace E. (Grace Elizabeth); Benedict, Helen Elizabeth, 1946-; Psychology and Neuroscience.; Baylor University. Dept. of Psychology and Neuroscience.This study investigated the relationship between child-specific caregiver attachment representations as measured by the Working Model of the Child Interview (WMCI) and child attachment representations as measured by the Story Stem Attachment Profile (SSAP), using a sample of adopted and foster children in Central Texas. Participants ranged in age from three to nine years and were referred to the study by community mental health providers, private adoption agencies, and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). The attachment literature suggests that attachment security can be transmitted from one generation to the next in both biologically related and adopted dyads. Thus, it was hypothesized that child attachment representations as measured by the SSAP would correspond to caregiver attachment representations using the WMCI. Analyses were conducted using both the broad SSAP attachment classifications of Secure, Insecure, Disorganized, and Defensive Avoidant, as well as individual story themes subsumed under these categories. While the study did not find evidence to support correspondence between SSAP classification and WMCI classification, exploratory analyses using logistic regression obtained significant results on a thematic level. Children who were able to acknowledge adult distress in their stories were more likely to have a caregiver who was classified as having a secure attachment on the WMCI, whereas children who disengaged from the story-telling task and/or incorporated bizarre or atypical material in their stories were more likely to have caregivers who were classified as insecurely attached on the WMCI. Furthermore, children who were referred to the study by the Texas DFPS were less likely to have a caregiver who was classified as securely attached to them as compared to children referred from other sources. Younger age and increased length of time in current placement were associated with greater likelihood of having a clinically significant low Security score on the SSAP. Given the sample size limitations of the current study, further research will need to be conducted in order to replicate the results of the exploratory analyses and further characterize the relationship between child attachment representations, caregiver child-specific attachment representations, and relevant demographic factors.Item Levels of attachment security between foster and adoptive dyads using the MIMBRS observational method.(2013-05-15) Bickell, Jennifer A.; Benedict, Helen Elizabeth, 1946-; Psychology and Neuroscience.; Baylor University. Dept. of Psychology and Neuroscience.The quality of the attachment relationship between foster and adopted caregiver-child dyads influences the overall quality of placement in the home. Attachment status also contributes to a host of positive and negative outcomes for a foster or adopted child. In this study, I investigated the impact of permanence on levels of overall attachment security between foster and adoptive parents as measured by the Marschak Interaction Method (MIM). Attachment behaviors were coded using the Marschak Interaction Method Behavioral Rating System (MIMBRS) (McKay, Pickens, and Stewart, 1996). Quality of interaction scores, as well as parent attachment behaviors, child attachment behaviors, and overall attachment behaviors using the MIMBRS, were compared between foster and adoptive caregivers. As hypothesized, adopted parents displayed significantly higher levels of parent attachment behaviors compared to foster parents. However, overall attachment behaviors (obtained by summing parent behaviors, child behaviors, and dyad behaviors) and child behaviors were not significantly different in foster and adopted dyads, suggesting that other mediating factors, such as maternal sensitivity or parental stress may impact attachment security in ways that permanence alone does not. However, there were notable trends in the direction of overall higher levels of attachment behaviors in adoptive dyads. Additionally, foster/adoptive fathers scored lower on attachment related behaviors than foster/adoptive mothers. Surprisingly, overall attachment security did not correlate with length of stay at placement or age at placement. These results suggest attachment benefits for adoptive families and raise questions regarding the process of attachment in non-biological fathers.