Enhancing the attachment relationship: A prenatal perspective

Abstract

There is now a wealth of research to validate Bowlby’s (1969) idea that the attachment relationship is crucial to development (for a review, see Schore, 2001). In particular, we know from longitudinal studies just how damaging the insecure attachment relationship can be, above all when it is disorganised (e.g. Dutra et al., 2009; Lyons-Ruth & Jacobvitz, 2009). From this increased understanding of long-term harm has come a desire to develop and implement programmes that impact as early as possible on the infant-carer relationship. Although it is debatable whether the word ‘attachment’ can be applied during pregnancy in strict Bowlbian terms (Walsh, 2009), there are an increasing number of studies that indicate how vital the prenatal period is to the future development of the attachment relationship. This article provides a review of current antenatal assessment and interventions, exploring what is being measured and which factors in antenatal care are conducive to enhancing the post-birth attachment relationship. There is a clear role here for educational psychologists: the profession deals with the consequences of insecure attachment on a daily basis but there is also an opportunity to be engaged in truly preventative work.