Attachment insecurity as a predictor of obsessive–compulsive symptoms in female children

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the capacity of attachment insecurity and its dimensions to predict the development of obsessive–compulsive (OC) symptoms in children. A total of 221 female children, aged 10–12, were administered the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale, Birleson Depression Self-rating Scale, and the inventory of parent and peer attachment – revised version for children. Hierarchical regressions revealed that the level of attachment insecurity was strongly associated with the symptoms of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) in children. Moreover, attachment insecurity subscale scores (trust, communication, and alienation) predicted a large percentage of variance in children's OC symptoms. Although all the attachment subscale scores were significantly associated with OC symptoms in children, parent–child communication was found to be the most powerful predictor, followed by emotional alienation and trust. Implications of these findings for theory and treatment of pediatric OCD are discussed.

Keywords:

• attachment insecurity
• obsessive–compulsive symptoms
• children
• parents
• attachment dimensions

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the University of Isfahan as a part of a PhD program. The authors also thank all the parents and children who participated in this study. They also specially thank the principals and teachers who sincerely helped them to successfully conduct the study in their schools.