The development of attachment in children with Down Syndrome: A review of the literature

By Stéphanie Vanwalleghem, Raphaële Miljkovitch
English

This review aims to identify the attachment characteristics of children with Down Syndrome (DS). Observations of the attachment behavior of these children in infancy suggest atypical behaviors which are difficult to interpret, something that may have an impact on parental sensitivity to these behaviors. Many children with DS develop disorganized or atypical attachment that does not fit within the usual classifications (secure, avoidant, resistant, disorganized). At a cognitive level, research on attachment representations among children with DS is sparse. Yet their intellectual disabilities raise questions as to their capacity to integrate their attachment experiences into an organized and well-developed internal working model. Providing parental support during early interactions may be helpful in assisting parents to understand the specificities of their children’s attachment signals, and may thereby promote the establishment of a secure basis for care and therapeutic treatment.

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