Attachment, social competence and executive function in children in care: a longitudinal study.
Reference: PSI2010-19287
Principal Investigator (PI): Jesús Palacios González and Maite Román Rodríguez
This project is the continuity of R+D project SEJ2006-12216 that studies the psychological recovery processes in children with initial adversity. These children were transferred into two different protective situations (international adoption and institutionalization) and compared with a control group with no initial adversity growing up with their biological families (n= 148, aged 4 to 8 years). The project Attachment, Social Competence and Executive Function in Children in Need of Protection; A Longitudinal Study (PSI2010-19287), financed by Spain’s Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, was designed as a longitudinal follow-up study of children between 8 and 13 years of age. The sample retention rate was 70%. Data collection involved lengthy assessments of children and adults at their homes, shelters and schools. Contents explored in the previous project were maintained (physical and psychological development, with special emphasis on attachment and social competence) while other novel assessments were added, including executive function, which using the CANTAB neuropsychological test battery.
The emotional characteristics of the caregivers and family dynamics were also assessed. Some of the instruments used required prior training abroad (England, Italy and the United States), in addition to adapting these instruments to the context of Spain. Thus, data stem from a variety of informants (children, adult responsible for the family, protection centers and schools) and techniques (from psychometric tests to narratives, from anthropometric and sociometric assessment to neuropsychological aspects). Complementing data from previous research, the results have proven that the recovery processes after initial adversity continue to progress (e.g., increased security in internal attachment patterns), but with important limitations being found in certain developmental areas (e.g. social integration with peers or executive function). Moreover, significant relationships were seen between the recovery processes and parenting contexts (e.g. significant relationships between the caregivers’ reflective capacity and children’s socioemotional recovery).
Our research results have been published in a number of journals and presented at major specialized international conventions. Likewise, each participating family, foster care center and school received a personalized report referring to the most outstanding findings for each child (families and foster care centers), or for each classroom (schools). In summary, this is a complex and painstaking research project that has led to significant contributions in the study of children recovering from early adversity, with relevant repercussions both in theory (basic research) and day-to-day implication (transfer of knowledge to professional intervention and work with children and families).
Type: Research Project
Program funded by: National plan
Funding source: Ministry of Science and Innovation
Scope: National
Competitive Summons: Yes
Start Date: 01/01/2011
End Date: 31/12/2013