A Clinical Application of Children\'s Attachment Representation Based on the Narrative Method:The Relationship to Mother-child Interactions, Children\'s Behavioral Problems, and Perceptions Regarding Family
AUTHOR : 진미경
INFORMATION : page. 27~42 / 2009 Vol.16 No.3
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to investigate a clinical application of children\'s attachment representation based on the narrative method to analyze relationships to mother-child interactions, children\'s behavioral problems, and perceptions about family. The attachment representation of 62 children aged between six and nine was evaluated by means of the Manchester Attachment Story Task (MCAST). Mother-child interactions were observed through the emotional availability scale (EAS) while family drawings were evaluated through Fury\'s family drawing scale. Mothers completed the Korean Personality Inventory for children (K-PIC) to evaluate children’s behavioral problems. The results of our analysis are as follows. When it comes to children\'s attachment representation types, 13 children (21%) were avoidant, 32 (51%) were secure attachment, 11 (18%) were resistant to attachment, and 6 (10%) exhibited disorganized attachment behaviors. There was a difference in maternal non-hostility between secure vs. resistant groups. There were also differences in child responsiveness and involving sub-scales between the secure vs. avoidant groups. In terms of behavioral problems, there were differences in ego resilience, depression, and delinquency sub-scales between the secure vs. resistant groups. Regarding the perceptions about the family, there were differences in vitality/creativity and bizarreness between the secure vs. avoidant groups.
Key words : child attachment, mother-child interaction, behavioral problem, perception about family