Insecure attachment states of mind and atypical caregiving behavior among foster mothers

The current study examined the links between attachment state of mind (assessed with the Adult Attachment Interview) and atypical parenting behavior among 39 foster mothers. Insecure states of mind were associated with increased atypical parenting while interacting with the foster child, whereas unexpectedly, an unresolved state of mind was not. Furthermore, caregivers with higher coherence and lower passivity scores on the AAI were less likely to display atypical parenting behaviors. Finally, presence of abuse in the caregiver's history and overall unresolved attachment state of mind were found to relate specifically to fearful/disoriented parenting. The results suggest that an insecure state of mind may be a risk factor for atypical caregiving in certain populations, even in the absence of unresolved attachment representations.