OBJECTIVE: Based on the premise that attachment experiences lead to a working model for social relationships throughout life, this study investigates if there is a difference between adult attachment representations in individuals who were brought up by a parent with Huntington's disease (HD), compared to a non-clinical population. Specific events in the parents' disease process, especially those leading to trauma and loss will receive attention. METHODS: Using the Adult Attachment Interview, adult attachment representations were investigated in 32 unaffected adults at 50% risk for HD who were raised by an affected parent. RESULTS: We found a lower percentage of secure attachment representations, a higher percentage of preoccupied representations, and a higher percentage of unresolved/disorganized representations in our sample, compared to a non-clinical population. A relatively late start of the parent's HD career was associated with a secure adult attachment representation. Death of the HD parent before the child's 18th birthday was associated with an unresolved/disorganized adult attachment representation. CONCLUSION: Growing up in a family where one of the parents has Huntington's disease appears to affect the offspring's adult attachment representation. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This study can be of relevance for genetic counselling, as well as for counselling and intervention in childrearing matters.
OBJECTIVE: Based on the premise that attachment experiences lead to a working model for social relationships throughout life, this study investigates if there is a difference between adult attachment representations in individuals who were brought up by a parent with Huntington's disease (HD), compared to a non-clinical population. Specific events in the parents' disease process, especially those leading to trauma and loss will receive attention. METHODS: Using the Adult Attachment Interview, adult attachment representations were investigated in 32 unaffected adults at 50% risk for HD who were raised by an affected parent. RESULTS: We found a lower percentage of secure attachment representations, a higher percentage of preoccupied representations, and a higher percentage of unresolved/disorganized representations in our sample, compared to a non-clinical population. A relatively late start of the parent's HD career was associated with a secure adult attachment representation. Death of the HD parent before the child's 18th birthday was associated with an unresolved/disorganized adult attachment representation. CONCLUSION: Growing up in a family where one of the parents has Huntington's disease appears to affect the offspring's adult attachment representation. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This study can be of relevance for genetic counselling, as well as for counselling and intervention in childrearing matters.
Authors: Janet K Williams; Cheryl Erwin; Andrew Juhl; James Mills; Bradley Brossman; Jane S Paulsen Journal: Genet Test Mol Biomarkers Date: 2010-08-19
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Authors: A A Kaptein; M Scharloo; D I Helder; L Snoei; G M J van Kempen; J Weinman; J C van Houwelingen; R A C Roos Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2007-03-21 Impact factor: 4.147