Prior research demonstrates that custodial grandchildren have often experienced adversity and disruption to their attachments with birth parents due to events such as parental substance abuse, maltreatment, death, or incarceration (Hayslip & Fruhauf, 2017).
Theseadverse childhood experiencesput custodial grandchildren at heightened risk for internalizing and externalizing problems, as well as other socioemotional difficulties (Hayslip & Fruhauf, 2017).
At the same time, grandparents who assume the custodial parenting role also experience stressors related to social stigma, financial hardship, and conflict with birth parents that can negatively impact family relationships (Meyer & Abdul-Malak, 2016).
Key Points
Rationale
While studies have examined relationship closeness and support between custodial grandparents and grandchildren, little prior research has specifically investigated attachment patterns in grandfamilies, particularly from the perspectives of both the grandchild and grandparent.
Grandfamilies experience multiple disruptions and reorganizations of attachment relationships – between the grandchild and birth parent when the child is removed from parental custody, and between the grandchild and custodial grandparent as they build a new caregiving bond (Poehlmann, 2003). Studying intergenerational attachment patterns can provide critical insight into these complex family dynamics.
Moreover, no studies have classified grandfamilies into subgroups based on profiles of attachment insecurity across the grandparent-grandchild-birth-parent triad.
Identifying such attachment profiles and linking them to child socioemotional outcomes would elucidate which patterns of attachment disruption most negatively impact grandchildren.
Method
The sample included 230 custodial grandmother-grandchild dyads. Grandmothers and grandchildren completed self-report measures onattachment avoidanceandattachment anxietyregarding their relationships with each other and with the grandchild’s birth mother.
Sample
Statistical measures
Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to identify attachment profiles. Associations between profile membership and grandchild outcomes were tested with automatic BCH analyses. Multinomial logistic regressions tested demographic differences between profiles.
Results
The LPA identified three profiles of attachment insecurity:
Here are brief elaborations on each of the three attachment profiles identified in the study:
Insight
These results suggest that while entering grandparent care often disrupts child-parent attachment,secure attachmentbetween custodial grandmothers and grandchildren can protect against negative impacts on socioemotional functioning.
This aligns with broader evidence that secure attachments to new caregivers promote resilience in children separated from parents (Masten, 2001).
Clinically, findings indicate interventions that improve communication and attachment within the grandmother-grandchild relationship may buffer effects of insecure attachment to birth mothers.
Such interventions could aid the millions of U.S. custodial grandfamilies struggling with attachment disruptions.
Strengths
Limitations
Implications
These results suggest custodial grandparent families would benefit from interventions and services aimed at improving attachment security between grandparents and grandchildren.
For example, attachment-based family therapy focusing on emotion regulation, communication, and responsiveness could strengthen these relationships and promote better socioemotional development for children.
Policymakers should consider provisions to make such clinical services more accessible to grandfamilies, given theirrisk for attachment disruptions. Future research should also continue investigating attachment patterns and interventions among diverse grandfamilies.
References
Primary reference
Blake, A. J., Infurna, F. J., Castro, S. A., Webster, B. A., Dolbin-MacNab, M. L., Smith, G. C., Crowley, D. M., & Musil, C. (2023). Intergenerational patterns of attachment in custodial grandfamilies.Journal of Family Psychology, 37(8), 1148–1158.https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0001150
Other references
Hayslip, B., Jr., & Fruhauf, C. A. (2017). Grandparenting in the United States: Cultural and subcultural diversity. In D. W. Shwalb & Z. Hossain (Eds.),Grandparents in cultural context(pp. 41–59). Routledge.
Masten, A. S. (2001). Ordinary magic. Resilience processes in development.American Psychologist, 56(3), 227–238.https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.56.3.227
Meyer, M. H., & Abdul-Malak, Y. (2016).Grandparenting in the United States. Routledge.https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315231624
Poehlmann, J. (2003). An attachment perspective on grandparents raising their very young grandchildren: Implications for intervention and research.Infant Mental Health Journal, 24(2), 149–173.https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.10047
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Adverse Childhood Experiences and Insecure Attachment
Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc
BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education
Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.
Saul McLeod, PhD
BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester
Saul McLeod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.
