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Impact of Attachment and Parenting Styles on Children’s Mental Health

DR. KGAPURU S. MASHISHI

30^TH AUGUST 2022

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What is Attachment?

Intimate emotional relationship which forms over time with primary caregivers/special person
Children need parents/primary caregivers for survival
Attachment develops through quality of consistent, reliable and sensitive care giving
It is expressed in non-verbal communication- Mother’s gaze, tone, touch, smile etc

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What is Attachment?

Bond between child and caregiver shapes child’s emotional-wellbeing and ability to form healthy relationships
Happens when the caregiver responds sensitively/attentively

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Pregnancy and Attachment

Attachment starts during pregnancy
Mother’s enthusiasm to interact with the fetus(unborn baby)
Relationship between mother and her unborn child is NB!-creates attachment after birth
Attachment during this period predicts attachment post-delivery

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Pregnancy and Attachment

Talk/Sing to your baby
Gently rub your belly
Play music to your baby
Self care- Avoid stress

- Go for a walk

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Birth and Attachment

At birth an infant/baby’s brain is not fully developed
90% of growth of the human brain occur in the 1^st 5yrs of life ( NB! Time)
From few weeks after birth, infant-parent relationship & the mother’s genes has direct impact on the:
Nature/Growth and Structure of the baby’s still developing brain
Brain development/Mental Health- Shaped by the quality of their relationships with caregivers

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Birth and Attachment

Its in this 1^st few years of life that connections between brain cells happen
This connections are shaped by:
Repeated experiences (Good/Bad)
Greatly impacted by the quality of the early relationship with caregivers
This developing brain is very sensitive and vulnerable to stress

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��SECURE ATTACHMENT-John Bowlby�

Sense of safety/security
Learn that parents are always available in time of stress and crisis
This allows the child to feel safe to learn and explore the world
Form safe bond and trust others
Feel concern and show awareness of others
Understand/Manage their feelings/behaviour

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SECURE ATTACHMENT

In Children it leads to:

Children who are comfortable exploring their environment (learn new things)
NB! In healthy development

In Adults:

Self confidence
An ability to ask and accept help

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SECURE ATTACHMENT

Friendly/Warm people
Ability to receive and give love back
Healthy/long-term relationships
High-self esteem

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HOW TO CREATE SECURE ATTACHMENT WITH YOUR CHILD?

Hold and cuddle your baby- Reassures your baby/sense of safety
Make eye contact- Feeding, bathing, changing diapers
Watch and listen to your baby
Comfort your baby every time she cries.
Speak in a warm, soothing tone of voice.
Maintain realistic expectations of your baby.
Be fully present.
Practice being self-aware. Notice when you are tired, anxious, angry, or frustrated, and take care of yourself. You are better able to meet your baby’s needs when you are aware of your own needs.

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��INSECURE ATTACHMENT�

Baby learns that people cannot be trusted
Sensitive to perceived threat
Affect their development
Channel much of their energy in coping with stress
Blue print/template for relating with others

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ATTACHMENT STYLES

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Attachment Styles

Secure
Insecure
Avoidant
Ambivalent
Disorganized

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Avoidant Attachment

In children whose parents are inconsistent
Children feels that they cannot count on their caregiver for comfort and care
No preference for caregiver over a stranger

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Avoidant Attachment

Difficulty in trusting
Believe that no one loves them/don’t deserve to be loved
In Adults: Problems with intimacy/Can’t form healthy relationships

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Anxious/Ambivalent Attachment

In children whose parents were consistently not present/dismissive
Believe that you cannot rely on anyone
Clingy to their caregiver-Not easily comforted
As Adults:
Fear of closeness/intimacy
Fear of rejection

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Anxious/Ambivalent Attachment

Inability to meet others emotional needs
As parents- Have difficulties in connecting with their children

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Fearful/Disorganized Attachment

Inconsistent connection with caregivers
Often fearful of the caregivers
Caregiver’s behavior is unpredictable (caring/abusive)
Struggle with relationships throughout life
Children don’t learn what healthy relationship is
Difficulty to provide healthy relationship as adults
Often in abusive homes

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Attachment-Risk Factors

Infant Factors
Parent Factors
Environmental Factors

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Infant-Risk Factors

Premature birth
Lengthy stay in hospital
Severe medical illnesses
Extensive surgical procedures

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Parent-Risk Factors

Parent’s attachment to their own parents
Parent’s physical and mental health
Unwanted baby
Substance abuse
Neglect/Abuse

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Parenting/Environmental�-Risk Factors

Inconsistent parenting
Domestic violence and trauma
Ongoing exposure to trauma
Lengthy separation from caregivers
Multiple changes in caregivers

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FETAL(UNBORN BABY) MENTAL HEALTH

AFFECTED BY:
Genetic factors
Prolonged stress
Maternal mental illness

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4 MAJOR PARENTING STYLES

1. AUTHORITARIAN PARENT
Controlling
Punitive
Children struggle socially
More likely to become Authoritarian parents themselves
Associated with INSECURE attachment

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4 MAJOR PARENTING STYLES

2. NEGLECTFUL PARENTS
Limited parent role
Don’t bother to set house rules
Children- May resist rules outside of home
Associated with INSECURE attachment

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4 MAJOR PARENTING STYLES

3. PERMISSSIVE PARENTS
don’t set many rules for children
Prioritize being child’s friend than a parent
Children- More entitled
Associated with INSECURE attachment

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4 MAJOR PARENTING STYLES

4. AUTHORITATIVE PARENT
Parents are more flexible
Set clear boundaries
Encourage children’s independence within limits
More supportive
This is associated with SECURE attachment

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INSECURE ATTACHMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS

Insecure attachment increases the risk of mental health conditions:
Anxiety
Depression
Behavioral Problems
Eating Disorders
Substance Use Disorders

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