Associations between Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Attachment Patterns in Preschool-Aged Children: Systematic Review

Purpose of ReviewAttachment is a biological evolutionary system contributing to infant survival. In neurotypical children, secure attachment is critical to healthy brain and organ-system development. Attachment patterns in children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) have not been extensively explored. The purpose of this review is to appraise and summarize the literature examining attachment in children with NDDs.Recent FindingsChildren with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability (ID) or developmental language disorder (DLD) displayed behavior indicative of secure attachments. Approximately 42-50% of children with NDDs were deemed securely attached compared with 62% in neurotypical children. Factors influencing attachment patterns were autistic symptoms, developmental level, maternal sensitivity, and maternal insightfulness/resolve.SummaryMany children with NDDs can form secure attachments; however, this is based on limited data, primarily focusing on children with ASD. Specific challenges were identified in assessing attachment patterns in children with NDDs. This demonstrates the need for research investigating attachment in children with various NDDs and co-occurring disorders.