International Perspectives on Foster Care: Building Secure Relationships: Attachment in Kin and Unrelated Foster Caregiver-Infant Relationships

The attachment relationships of 46 infants with their kin and unrelated foster caregivers are reported in the results of this study. Secure attachment relationships were found in about equal percentages in kin and unrelated caregiver-infant dyads (67-68%), similar to the percentage of secure attachment relationships found in birth and adoptive caregiver-infant dyads in previous studies. Disorganized/disoriented attachment behaviors were observed in a greater percentage of kin and unrelated foster caregiver-infant dyads (25-29%) than previously observed in birth families. Infant characteristics, caregiver characteristics, and differences in the home environments that could explain the differences reported in the attachment relationships observed in kin and unrelated foster caregiver-infant dyads are discussed. Implications for future research and social work practice are discussed. Adapted from the source document.