Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate whether attachment insecurity, focusing on disorganized attachment, and the
executive function (EF) component of inhibition, assessed at age 5, were longitudinally related to general externalizing problem
behaviors as well as to specific symptoms of ADHD and Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and callous-unemotional (CU) traits.
General externalizing problem behaviors were also measured at age 5 to allow for a developmental analysis. Outcome variables
were rated by parents and teachers. The sample consisted of 65 children with an oversampling of children with high levels
of externalizing behaviors. Attachment was evaluated using a story stem attachment doll play procedure. Inhibition was measured
using four different tasks. The results showed that both disorganized attachment and poor inhibition were longitudinally related
to all outcome variables. Controlling for initial level of externalizing problem behavior, poor inhibition predicted ADHD
symptoms and externalizing problem behaviors, independent of disorganized attachment, whereas for ASD symptoms no predictive
relations remained. Disorganized attachment independently predicted CU traits.
executive function (EF) component of inhibition, assessed at age 5, were longitudinally related to general externalizing problem
behaviors as well as to specific symptoms of ADHD and Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and callous-unemotional (CU) traits.
General externalizing problem behaviors were also measured at age 5 to allow for a developmental analysis. Outcome variables
were rated by parents and teachers. The sample consisted of 65 children with an oversampling of children with high levels
of externalizing behaviors. Attachment was evaluated using a story stem attachment doll play procedure. Inhibition was measured
using four different tasks. The results showed that both disorganized attachment and poor inhibition were longitudinally related
to all outcome variables. Controlling for initial level of externalizing problem behavior, poor inhibition predicted ADHD
symptoms and externalizing problem behaviors, independent of disorganized attachment, whereas for ASD symptoms no predictive
relations remained. Disorganized attachment independently predicted CU traits.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s10802-011-9574-7
- Authors
- Gunilla Bohlin, Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Box1225, SE 751 42 Uppsala, Sweden
- Lilianne Eninger, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Karin Cecilia Brocki, Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Box1225, SE 751 42 Uppsala, Sweden
- Lisa B. Thorell, Section of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Journal Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
- Online ISSN 1573-2835
- Print ISSN 0091-0627