Table 1_Attachment and reflective functioning in families with a child on the autism spectrum.docx

The concepts of attachment and reflective functioning are predictors of positive development in children on the autism spectrum. This is the one of the first cross-sectional studies to examine associations between parents’ attachment representations and parental reflective functioning and child attachment in families with children on the autism spectrum. Twenty-eight parents completed the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System and questionnaires of Maternal Perception of Child Attachment and Parental Reflective Functioning regarding their child on the autism spectrum and when applicable a typically developing sibling. To test any associations between the parents’ attachment and parental reflective functioning and parents’ perception of child attachment, the sample was divided in organized (secure, dismissing and preoccupied combined) as compared with unresolved parents. We found a higher level of the parents’ Interest and Curiosity in their child’s mental states (a parental reflective functioning domain) in the organized as compared with unresolved parents. Also, mothers had significantly higher levels of Interest and Curiosity than fathers. There were no other significant differences regarding the remaining questionnaire domains. Also, there were no significant differences between parents’ rating of child attachment or parental reflective functioning in relation to their child on the autism spectrum compared with their typically developing sibling. The findings suggest that future support may enhance focus on parents unresolved to loss and trauma and fathers. Also, more research is needed to understand the implications of attachment and reflective functioning in families affected by autism.

依恋（attachment）与反思功能（reflective functioning）是自闭症谱系儿童正向发展的预测因子。本研究是首批针对自闭症谱系儿童家庭中家长依恋表征、家长反思功能与儿童依恋之间关联展开的横断面研究（cross-sectional study）之一。共有28名家长完成了针对其自闭症谱系子女（若家庭存在典型发育同胞，则同时完成针对该同胞的相关评估）的成人依恋投射图画系统（Adult Attachment Projective Picture System）测试，以及《母亲对儿童依恋的感知问卷》与《家长反思功能问卷》。为检验家长依恋、家长反思功能与家长对儿童依恋的感知之间的关联，本研究将样本分为有组织型依恋家长组（将安全型、拒绝型与先占型依恋合并）与未解决型依恋家长组。研究结果显示，相较于未解决型依恋家长组，有组织型依恋家长组在「子女心理状态的兴趣与好奇心」这一家长反思功能维度上的得分显著更高。此外，母亲在该维度上的得分显著高于父亲。其余问卷维度未发现显著组间差异。此外，家长对自闭症谱系子女的依恋评分与反思功能评分，与其对典型发育同胞的相关评分之间无显著差异。本研究结果提示，未来的支持服务可加强对存在丧失与创伤未解决问题的家长以及父亲群体的关注。同时，未来仍需开展更多研究，以阐明依恋与反思功能在自闭症受累家庭中的作用与影响。