Challenges That Affect Attachment

Children and caregivers face many challenges in developing attachments with one another.  Any factors that affect bonding experiences or interaction between caregivers and the child can affect attachment.  It helps to understand that some challenges are a normal and expected part of life and if addressed, do not have to have a lasting impact on the attachment. Other ongoing challenges can affect a young child's ability to form an attachment, and caregivers must seek support in order for negative effects to be reduced.

Characteristics of the child, characteristics of the caregiver, and characteristics of the environment are factors that can influence the formation of attachment.  A child's natural temperament plays a significant role in how the child approaches and responds to situations and people. If a child does not easily interact with others, whether that child is reserved or extremely active, it can be more difficult to bond with or engage in activities with the child.

Some stages of development that a child experiences are more challenging than others. It can be difficult to have positive interactions with a two year old who is demonstrating a desire for more independence.  A child with chronic health conditions or other special needs may require more attention but may not respond positively to a caregiver's nurturing.

When the caregiver is depressed, for example, or otherwise emotionally or physically unavailable, it has an effect on the caregiver-child relationship. The child might develop insecurity and fear. The predictability and support a child seeks from the caregiver-child relationship sets the foundation for security needed to form trust.  A child must have trust in her caregivers and her environment to develop healthy attachments. 

Caregiver knowledge of child development and ability to apply that knowledge are also important factors that influence the caregiver-child relationship. A more knowledgeable and skilled caregiver is more able to tune in to the child's social and emotional needs.  Often, caregivers think that an infant who is crying is just looking for attention, and should not be held.  The concern is that the infant will be "spoiled"by the attention. However, the child is seeking the caregiver connection to form the positive attachment, exactly as she should be, but she does not know how to express her need in any other way.  The caregiver is responsible for identifying and responding to this need, providing her the sense of security she is looking for.  The caregiver's actions assures the child she is loved and safe, which helps establish the trust necessary to form an attachment.

Extremely traumatic experiences, such as suffering or witnessing abuse, neglect and/or other stressful situations, also interfere with the child's ability to develop attachments. If the most often-repeated experiences are violent and threatening, the more primitive areas of the brain that respond to the violent or chaotic experiences will be more highly developed. The areas in the frontal cortex and limbic system that develop positive emotional responsiveness to others may not have the opportunity for repetitive experiences to fully develop.

All of these factors can contribute to a child's difficulty forming and maintaining attachments.  Challenges can often be overwhelming and can be managed better with the help of outside resources. Educational resources and support services, such as networks of people with similar problems, medical and developmental intervention, and other family support services can help those who are faced with these and other challenges.