Attachment Disorders among Children in Care: The Role of Different Care Types and Temperament

Abstract Institutionalized children are at risk for developing attachment disorders, which are Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) and Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder (DSED). The current study examined the attachment disorders of children residing in institutions, care villages, group homes, foster care, and never-institutionalized (NI) children. In addition, the moderator role of children’s temperament between the care contexts and attachment disorders was also examined. The participants were 353 children (112 from institutions, 59 from care villages, 61 from group homes, 49 from foster care, and 72 NI children) between the age range of 23 and 61 months ( M  = 41.06, SD  = 10.96) and their caregivers. Attachment disorders of children were assessed via the Disturbances of Attachment Interview and the Stranger at the Door task. Temperamental characteristics of children were measured for frustration and perceptual sensitivity by the Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire and Children’s Behavior Questionnaire. The results indicated that children in institutions, care villages, and group homes had more RAD and DSED symptoms than children in foster care and NI children. Additionally, children in foster care showed less RAD compared to NI children. Besides, children’s temperament was related to attachment disorders. Specifically, children’s frustration was positively associated, whereas perceptual sensitivity was negatively associated with attachment disorders. In addition to the main effects, frustration and perceptual sensitivity significantly moderated the association between care types and attachment disorders. The findings revealed implications for further studies and social policies.