Can adults with Asperger’s syndrome learn about positive attachment behaviors between parents and young babies through the use of a skill-training DVD?

Abstract

Objectives

To explore how much people with Asperger’s syndrome know and understand about early attachment behaviors and whether this knowledge can be increased through a DVD.

Methods

Adults with Asperger’s syndrome who were not parents (N = 28) took part in four experimental conditions: Baseline, pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up. Participants watched a DVD and received a booklet summarizing its contents. Participants were asked seven questions about attachment in all four conditions. Measures of trait emotional intelligence, IQ and autistic symptomatology were explored as possible predicting factors.

Results

A significant increase in knowledge of early attachment behaviors was observed at post-intervention for the total knowledge score and four out of the seven attachment questions. This was maintained at follow-up. Trait emotional intelligence, IQ and autistic symptomology did not predict pre-intervention or increase in knowledge.

Conclusions

Knowledge and understanding of early attachment behaviors can be improved through the use of a DVD.

Keywords:

• attachment
• Asperger’s syndrome
• parenting
• emotional intelligence
• IQ