Attachment Behaviour, Attachment Representations, and Symptoms of Reactive Attachment Disorder and Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder in Foster Children With Different Preplacement Experiences

Foster care offers children a safe family environment and is effective in buffering the negative effects of early adversity. Specifically, foster has been found to facilitate secure attachment parents. However, there are limited data on development entering after first year life. In this study, we examined behaviour representations as well symptoms reactive disorder (RAD) disinhibited social engagement (DSED) 3–6 year-old children. We studied two subgroups with different preplacement experiences (Group 1: living institutions; Group 2: their biological families) compared them community sample. The results revealed that both groups showed significantly lower security at behavioural level, higher hyperactivation disorganization representational more RAD DSED than control group. Analyses did not indicate significant differences between groups. Moreover, no associations were attachment-related variables experiences. This may be an indication long-term care, quality becomes major factor affecting child’s development. Thus, parents need supportive services interventions focus