Some implications of attachment theory for understanding psychological functioning in old age: An illustration from the long-term psychological effects of World War Two

This paper aims to outline some of the implications of attachment theory for understanding the way in which older adults deal with the salient developmental tasks of later life. The paper aims to illustrate this theme by exploring the way in which negative childhood attachment-related experiences brought about by the Second World War may have adversely affected the way in which some of the current generation of older adults function in old age. The paper begins with a brief introduction to attachment theory and research and then moves on to consider some of the ways in which the Second World War may have affected the attachment-related experiences of the United Kingdom population. Finally, some of the clinical implications of attachment theory are briefly discussed, and the implications for assessing and treating older adults are considered. Copyright (C) 2003 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.