Insecure Adult Attachment and Child Maltreatment: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Extant evidence has shown that insecure adult attachment is related to dysfunctional parenting styles that heighten parents’ risk of child maltreatment. However, there is a lack of studies appraising the evidence for the association between insecure adult attachment and child maltreatment. This meta-analytic study examined the relationship between parents’ adult attachment and child maltreatment perpetration/child abuse potential. Studies examining the relationship between parents’ adult attachment and child maltreatment/child abuse potential published before February 2017 were identified through a systematic search of online databases. In total, 16 studies (N = 1,830) were selected. Meta-analysis based on random-effects models shows a significant positive association between insecure attachment and child maltreatment (pooled effect size: odds ratio [OR] = 2.93, p = .000). Subgroup analyses show insecure attachment was more strongly associated with failure to thrive (OR = 8.04, p = .000) and filicide (OR = 5.00, p < .05). Medium effect sizes were found for subgroup analyses on insecure romantic attachment (OR = 3.76, p = .000), general attachment (OR = 3.38, p = .000), attachment to own child (OR = 3.13, p = .001), and to own parents (OR = 2.63, p = .000) in relation to child maltreatment.