Citation

Lo CKM, Chan KL, Ip P. Trauma Violence Abuse 2017; ePub(ePub): 1524838017730579.

Affiliation

Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1524838017730579

PMID

29333992

Abstract

Extant evidence has shown that insecure adult attachment is related to dysfunctional parenting styles that heighten parents' risk of child maltreatment. However, there is a lack of studies appraising the evidence for the association between insecure adult attachment and child maltreatment. This meta-analytic study examined the relationship between parents' adult attachment and child maltreatment perpetration/child abuse potential. Studies examining the relationship between parents' adult attachment and child maltreatment/child abuse potential published before February 2017 were identified through a systematic search of online databases. In total, 16 studies ( N = 1,830) were selected. Meta-analysis based on random-effects models shows a significant positive association between insecure attachment and child maltreatment (pooled effect size: odds ratio [ OR] = 2.93, p =.000). Subgroup analyses show insecure attachment was more strongly associated with failure to thrive ( OR = 8.04, p =.000) and filicide ( OR = 5.00, p <.05). Medium effect sizes were found for subgroup analyses on insecure romantic attachment ( OR = 3.76, p =.000), general attachment ( OR = 3.38, p =.000), attachment to own child ( OR = 3.13, p =.001), and to own parents ( OR = 2.63, p =.000) in relation to child maltreatment.

Language: en

Keywords

adult attachment; child maltreatment; meta-analysis