Emotional Availability in Mother-Child and Father-Child Interactions as Predictors of Child’s Attachment Representations in Adoptive Families

Ana Susana Almeida, Jean-Christophe Giger, Sandra Mendonça, Marina Fuertes and Cristina Nunes
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Ana Susana Almeida: Psychology Research Centre (CIP) & Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Jean-Christophe Giger: Psychology Research Centre (CIP) & Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Sandra Mendonça: CDI.UP—Cooperativa de Desenvolvimento Infantil e União Parental, CRL, 8125-196 Quarteira, Portugal
Marina Fuertes: Centro de Psicologia da Universidade do Porto (CPUP) & Escola Superior de Educação (ESELX-IPL), Campus de Benfica do IPL, 1549-003 Lisboa, Portugal
Cristina Nunes: Psychology Research Centre (CIP) & Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 8, 1-16

Abstract: Emotional availability (EA) in parent-child interactions is associated with positive child outcomes, including attachment security. However, little is known about EA in adoptive families. This study investigated the associations between secure representations of attachment in adopted children and the adoptive parents’ EA. The participants ( n = 75) included 26 mothers, 23 fathers, and 26 children who were aged 3 to 9 years. Children completed the Attachment Story Completion Task. Adult-child dyadic relationships were assessed using the EA ® System. The results showed that the children’s and parents’ EA, age when adopted, and time elapsed since adoption were associated with more secure children’s attachment representations. Implications for family support and public policy are discussed.

Keywords: adoption; adult-child interactions; emotional availability; secure attachment representations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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