Attachment in Early Adolescence: The Vulnerability of Late-Adopted Girls

• In Event: 1-085 - The Nature of Attachment Representations in Early Adolescence: Longitudinal Roots and New Theoretical Directions

Integrative Statement

This presentation focuses on Friends and Family Interview (FFI) responses obtained from 70 early adolescents (mean age 13 yrs, 8 months), half of whom were adopted in infancy, and the other half adopted late (4 to 7 years of age), following a history of maltreatment. The youth were participants in a longitudinal adoption study, focusing on post-adoption social-emotional adaptation in the two groups. Previously reported findings from the study noted that the group adopted in infancy were significantly better adapted than the late-adopted group in response to a Story Stem Assessment Profile (SSAP) administered immediately after the late-adoptions and at one-year and two-year follow-ups (Steele et al, 2003). Notable catch-up was observed over time, with most favorable outcomes for those adopted youth placed with adoptive parents, where at least one of the adoptive parents (mother or father) was autonomous-secure and not unresolved with respect to past loss or trauma in response to the Adult Attachment Interview (Steele et al, 2008). The current presentation focuses on the FFI responses of the youth, and notes associations with previously collected information from the families.
All 70 were interviewed with the Friends and Family Interview (FFI) that is the central focus of this report, together with other measures obtained.
Based on the Friends and Family Interview, 57% of infancy-adopted children, and 46% of the previously maltreated adoptees showed a predominantly secure attachment organization. This compares with FFI findings of 65% UK non-adopted, 53% Swedish non-adopted, 60% Spanish international adoptees, and 50% Chilean adoptees.
The infancy-adopted group showed significantly higher levels on various subscales beside the overall security rating. These included mother’s availability as a safe haven & secure base, social competence, school competence and self-esteem. They also showed significantly lower levels of anger towards mother and lower levels of derogation towards mother.
Within the previously maltreated group there was a significant gender difference. 11/18 (61%) of boys’ FFIs were classified secure, while only 5/17 (29%) of girls’ FFIs were classified secure. 1/18 (6%) of boys’ FFIs compared to 5/17 (29%) of girls’ FFIs were classified as disorganized. Compared to the boys, girls showed lower self-esteem, less evidence of secure base with their mothers, and more anger toward their mothers. Previously maltreated girls were significantly higher on dismissal and significantly lower on overall security than infancy-adopted girls.
Higher levels of reflective functioning in the mothers' pre-placement AAI were related to less difficulty for the previously maltreated girls (less derogation, less hostility towards siblings where the girl had siblings); and an absence of avoidance in the girls' earlier SSAP was also associated with less difficulty.
Discussion focuses on reasons for the apparently greater vulnerability of late-adopted girls in response to the challenges of adolescence.

Authors

• Miriam Steele, The New School for Social Research
  Presenting Author

• Jill Hodges, Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
  Non-Presenting Author

• Jeanne Kaniuk, Coram Capital Adoption
  Non-Presenting Author

• Saul Hillman, Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
  Non-Presenting Author

• Vivien Prior, University College London
  Non-Presenting Author

• Howard Steele, The New School for Social Research
  Non-Presenting Author