Title

The association of unresolved attachment status and cognitive processes in maltreated adolescents

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Child Abuse Review

ISSN

0952-9136

Volume

18

Issue

1

DOI

10.1002/car.1053

First Page

6

Last Page

23

Publication Date

January 2009

Abstract

This exploratory investigation sought to gain a better understanding of the mental representations of attachment in maltreated adolescents, and how, if at all, unresolved attachment representations are related to cognitive processes in this population. Measures of cognitive functioning, attachment state of mind and parent ratings on attention were obtained from 38 adolescents with a history of maltreatment. Results showed that maltreated adolescents with unresolved states of mind in regard to attachment scored significantly lower on measures of cognitive processes of attention, working memory and cognitive efficiency, even when intelligence was controlled for in the analyses. Theoretical considerations, implications for future research and clinical implications are discussed.

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