@article{ref1,
title="Insecure adult attachment and child maltreatment: a meta-analysis",
journal="Trauma, violence, and abuse",
year="2017",
author="Lo, Camilla K. M. and Chan, Ko Ling and Ip, Patrick",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="1524838017730579-1524838017730579",
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.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1524-8380",
doi="10.1177/1524838017730579",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1524838017730579"
}