Additional Orphan Study

• Zeanah et al

  • Assessed attachment in 95 children aged 12 - 31 months who spent most of their lives in institutional care
  • They were compared to a control group of 50 children who never lived in an institution
  • Attachment type was measured using the strange situation
  • Additionally carers were asked about unusual social behaviours e.g. disinhibited attachment
• Zeanah et al: Results

  • 74% of the control group came out as securely attached
  • Only 19% of the institutional group were securely attached, with 65% being classified with disorganised attachment.
  • Disinhibited attachment applied to 44% of institutionalised children compared to less than 20% of the controls