THE PARENTAL PREDICTORS OF CHILD’S ATTACHMENT SECURITY AND THE MODERATION ROLE OF CHILD’S DISABILITY: REFRAMING PARENTING PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AFFECTED BY NEUROLOGICAL ILLNESS

Abstract

Introduction

Disability appears to challenge parents, undermining sensitivity, and increasing the chances that children with neurological conditions will be insecurely attached.

Aim

The study aims at exploring the role of parental perceptions in predicting child‟s attachment security, and whether their effects persist and control the presence of the child‟s disability, specifically if there isa neurological illness.

Further, the potential moderation role of the child‟s disability in the relationship between parental perceptions and child‟s attachment security is also tested.

Method

A convenience sample of 50 Serbian nuclear families (mothers, fathers and children) was recruited: 25 families with children affected by neurological problems and 25 families with typically developing children. The security scale was administered to children for the assessment of attachment security, whereas two scales investigating perceptions as secure parents and beliefs about child‟s perception were   administered   to   mothers   andfathers.

Multiple  regression  analyses  and  moderation analyses were conducted.

Results

Father‟s beliefs about child‟s perception represent the sole predictor of child‟s ratings of security toward father, independently from child‟s disability. A substantivedespite not statistically significant moderation effect was detected, according to which the presence of child‟s disability seems to reduce the positive influence of father's perceptions as secure parent on child's attachment security.

Conclusions

Paternal sensitivity is a keyfactor for the promotion of secure attachment in both children with and without disabilities. Parenting programs for families with children affected by neurological problems may enhance father‟s perceptions as secure parent, as a protective factor improving child‟s attachment security.