Attachment in adults with high-functioning autism

Abstract

This study assessed attachment security in adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders, using the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI; George, Kaplan, & Main, 1996). Of 20 participants, three were classified as securely attached, the same proportion as would be expected in a general clinical sample. Participants' AAIs were less coherent and lower in reflective function than those of controls, who were matched for attachment status and mood disorder. A parallel interview suggested that some aspects of participants' responses were influenced by their general discourse style, while other AAI scale scores appeared to reflect their state of mind with respect to attachment more specifically. There was little evidence that attachment security was related to IQ, autistic symptomatology or theory of mind. This study suggests that adults with autism can engage with the AAI and produce scoreable narratives of their attachment experiences, and a minority demonstrate secure attachment.

Keywords:

• autism
• Asperger's syndrome
• attachment
• AAI
• security

Acknowledgements

This research was completed by Emma Taylor as part of a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at University College London, supervised by Mary Target and Tony Charman. Funding was provided by the UCL Sub-department of Clinical Health Psychology and the UCL Graduate School. We are grateful to Liz Allison for assistance with coding interviews, and Sam Taylor for assistance with transcribing. Many thanks to all those who helped with recruitment, including Ben Corden, Rebecca Chilvers, Nick Keene, Steve Carnaby, Ken Greaves, David Moat, Mark Dixon, Angela Dyer, and all at Oxford Aspies, Barnet Mencap, NAS Harrow and Autism London. Above all, we are grateful to all those who took part in the research.