A study of attachment styles among children aged from 8 to 14 years in Nairobi,Kenya
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Date
2014Author
Polkovnikova-Wamoto, Anastasia
Language
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Contrary to common perceptions, there is growing evidence that parents continue
to play a key role in influencing their adolescent’s development, regardless of decreasing amount
of time spent together. Attachment security, despite built-in capacity for stability, is a dynamic
concept that continues one’s development and re-adjustment to new personal developmental
levels and external conditions through the whole life-span. Recent researches suggest that
development of attachment representations during the middle childhood and later in adolescence
is more strongly influenced by ongoing family experiences than by the early childhood
relationships with primary caregiver. Globally there is a consensus amongst child development
researchers that there is a large gap in the theorization and assessment of middle childhood and
early adolescence.
Statement of the problem. More than 50% of Kenyans are young people under 18. One of the
known protective factors for different types of psychopathology in youth is attachment security,
which is today recognized as a universal phenomenon.
Objectives. The study specifically tries to (1) Describe attachment styles and their presentation
amongst 8 to 14 years old Kenyan children based in Nairobi. (2) Categorize study population
into secure and insecure attachment depending on findings. (3) Demonstrate the applicability of
Child Attachment Interview for designated age group (8 to 14) for the Kenyan urban child
population based in Nairobi.
Purpose of the study. As one of the few studies on this important topic, this study aims to offer
in-depth understanding of child‘s experience of parenting in Kenya examined through the lens of
contemporary attachment theory.
Significance. Secure attachment in childhood and adolescence is associated with less
engagement in high risk behaviors (such as delinquent behavior, teenager’s pregnancy, suicide,
and substances misuse), fewer mental health problems, and enhanced social skills and coping
strategies.
Methodology. The study design is qualitative; 19 participants aged 8 to 14 who met the
inclusion criteria. Content analysis of obtained narratives was focused on revealing culturallyspecific
themes relevant to attachment and assessment of cross-cultural sensitivity of tool.
Resultsare presented in the form of tables, diagrams, and bar-charts.
Results. Child Attachment Interview (CAI) Protocol can be used with Kenyan urban population
for designated age group of 8 to 14 years old. Children from Low SES are able to give narratives
rich enough for coding. Out of 19 children who were interviewed, 16 (84%) were securely
attached to their mothers and 17 (88%) were securely attached to their fathers.
Conclusion. Apart from demonstrating applicability of the measure and obtaining valuable
information about attachment security distribution in late childhood and early adolescence; the
tool also allowed to see various aspects of parenting through child’s eyes
Citation
Master of Science in Clinical PsychologyPublisher
University of Nairobi