Poster #135 - Effects of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Risk on Attachment Quality in Adopted Children

• In Event: 1-005 - Poster Session 01
  In Poster Session: PS 01 Section - Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Integrative Statement

Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) can negatively affect the development of a range of cognitive, emotional, and social processes (Comasco, Rangmar, Eriksson, & Oreland, 2018), but the effect of FASD on attachment is not yet well characterized. However, the dysregulation observed in children with FASD suggests that it may be difficult for parents to accurately interpret cues and respond sensitively to their child, which could result in poor attachment among children with FASD (Zeegers, Colonnesi, Stams, & Meins, 2017). In order to better characterize the relation between FASD and attachment, the present study investigated the association between FASD risk and attachment quality in a sample of adopted children and their adoptive parents who participated in a randomized controlled trial of the Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC) intervention.

Participants were 75 children who were adopted out of orphanages and foster care in the US and internationally, and came into their adoptive parents’ primary care between 0.03 and 29 months of age (M=13.31, SD=5.95). Children were assessed for risk of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder using the University of Washington 4-Digit Diagnostic Code (Astley, 2004). Parents’ sensitivity was assessed both before and after the intervention from play interactions on a 1 to 5 scale based on the NICHD Observational Recording of the Caregiving Environment (NICHD ECCRN, 1996). Child attachment was assessed using the Strange Situation one month post intervention when children were between 21.3 and 33.3 months of age, and was coded with both attachment classifications (Ainsworth, 1978) and Main and Solomon’s 9-point disorganization scale (1990).

Logistic regression analysis was conducted to predict attachment organization using FASD risk as a predictor, (Chi-square(1) = 4.84, p = .03), with a 1.3x increased likelihood of a disorganized attachment classification for every 1 point increase in FASD risk. Linear regression tested the effect of FASD risk on disorganized attachment score, and possible moderation by ABC and parental sensitivity. FASD risk did not significantly predict continuous disorganized attachment scores, R2 = .02, p = .21; however, the FASD risk x parental sensitivity interaction was marginally significant (β = -.19, p = .08).

Increased FASD risk predicted increased rates of disorganized attachment classification, but not increases in disorganization when disorganization was measured continuously. Results also suggested that parenting behaviors may play a role in the effect of FASD risk on attachment disorganization, although future research with a sufficiently powered sample is needed to fully understand possible moderators. Increased understanding of how FASD impacts attachment provides a foundation for exploring attachment as a protective factor for outcomes associated with FASD and designing interventions to improve developmental outcomes in children with FASD.

Authors

• Christiana Martin, University of Delaware
  Presenting Author

• Teresa Lind, University of California San Diego
  Non-Presenting Author

• Mary Dozier, University of Delaware
  Non-Presenting Author