Attachment style and mental health in adults with intellectual disability: self‐reports and reports by carers

Abstract

Purpose

This pilot study aimed to investigate whether adults with mild/moderate intellectual disabilities could accurately self‐report their attachment style. It explored whether there is a relationship between attachment style and challenging behaviour and/or mental health problems. Additionally, the paper examines the distribution of attachment styles in people with intellectual disabilities, based on the hypothesis that it might be different to that of the general population.

Design/methodology/approach

Adults with intellectual disabilities (n=60) and people who supported them (n=39) completed questionnaires based on Hazan and Shaver's attachment categories and mental health diagnoses. Supporters also provided information about challenging behaviour.

Findings

People with mild/moderate intellectual disabilities show the same range of attachment styles as the general population. Links between challenging behaviour and insecure attachment were found, and there was an association between depression and insecure‐avoidant attachment.

Originality/value

Applications of attachment theory in individual therapy and at a policy level are explored in light of the findings, as well as directions for future research. There appears to be a relationship between insecure attachment and depression in people with intellectual disabilities. This has implications for the psychological treatment of people with intellectual disabilities and interventions should be developed that focus on attachment relationships. Attachment behaviour may not be linked to challenging behaviour as directly as has been previously suggested, certainly for people with mild moderate intellectual disabilities.

Citation

Larson, F.V., Alim, N. and Tsakanikos, E. (2011), "Attachment style and mental health in adults with intellectual disability: self‐reports and reports by carers", Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, Vol. 5 No. 3, pp. 15-23. https://doi.org/10.1108/20441281111142585