Alternative Caregiving Figures and their Role on Adult Attachment Representations. (13th December 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zaccagnino, Maria; Cussino, Martina; Saunders, Rachel; Jacobvitz, Deborah; Veglia, Fabio; Leonardi, Matilde; Quintas, Rui; Raggi, Alberto
• Is Part Of: Clinical psychology & psychotherapy. Volume 21:Number 3(2014:May/Jun.)
• Page Start: 276
• Page End: 287
• Publication Date: 2012-12-13
• Subjects: Clinical psychology -- Periodicals; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1002/cpp.1828
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1063-3995

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="cpp1828-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>The present work represents the first Italian study investigating whether and how mothers who describe unloving experiences with both parents during childhood could become more secure as adults (termed earned‐secures).</p> </sec> <sec id="cpp1828-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Method</title> <p>The sample consisted of 94 women from northern Italy. All the subjects were administered the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) and fill in a screening test evaluating depressive symptoms.</p> </sec> <sec id="cpp1828-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>No significative differences were found regarding depressive symptomatology across the different attachment classifications. The majority of the samples (84%) remember an important alternative support figure during childhood (before 12 years old). Earned‐secures significantly differ from continuous‐secure and insecure groups (<italic>F</italic> = 27.202; <italic>p</italic> ≤ 0.01) on the amount of the emotional support from the main alternative support figure and on the average amount of emotional support across alternative support figures (<italic>F</italic> = 10.44; <italic>p</italic> ≤ 0.01). The majority of alternative support figures (80%) were grandparents.</p> </sec> <sec id="cpp1828-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>A corrective emotional experience allows the subject to work through his negative childhood experiences and acquire modalities of interaction that enable him/her to function more effectively in the world. The clinical implications of this study will be discussed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</p> </sec> <sec id="cpp1828-sec-0024" sec-type="section"> <title>Key Practitioner Message</title> <p> <list list-type="bullet"> <list-item> <p>Attachment theory.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Clinical implications of attachment experiences.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Corrective emotional experience.</p> </list-item> </list> </p> </sec> </abstract>