Adoption and attachment theory\u2019 the attachment models of adoptive mothers and the revision of attachment patterns of their late-adopted children

Objective. This study examined the attachment patterns of late-adopted children (aged 4\u20137) and their adoptive mothers during the first 7- to 8-month period after adoption and aimed to evaluate the effect of adoptive mothers\u2019 attachment security on the revision of the attachment patterns of their late-adopted children. Design. We assessed attachment patterns in 20 adoptive dyads and 12 genetically related dyads at two different times: T1 (time 1) within 2 months of adoption and T2 (time 2) 6 months after T1. Methods The children\u2019s behavioural attachment patterns were assessed using the Separation-Reunion Procedure and the children\u2019s representational (verbal) attachment patterns using the Manchester Child Attachment Story Task. The attachment models of the adoptive mothers were classified using the Adult Attachment Interview. Results. We found that there was a significant enhancement of the late-adopted children\u2019s attachment security across the time period considered (P = 0.008). Moreover, all the late-adopted children who showed a change from insecurity to security had adoptive mothers with secure attachment models (P = 0.044). However, the matching between maternal attachment models and late-adopted children\u2019s attachment patterns (behaviours and representations) was not significant. Conclusions. Our data suggest that revision of the attachment patterns in the late-adopted children is possible but gradual, and that the adoptive mothers\u2019 attachment security makes it more likely to occur