Changing toddlers' and preschoolers' attachment classifications: the Circle of Security intervention
Abstract
The Circle of Security intervention uses a group treatment modality to provide parent education and psychotherapy that is based on attachment theory. The purpose of this study was to track changes in children's attachment classifications pre- and immediately postintervention. Participants were 65 toddler- or preschooler- caregiver dyads recruited from Head Start and Early Head Start programs. As predicted, there were significant within-subject changes from disorganized to organized attachment classifications, with a majority changing to the secure classification. In addition, only 1 of the 13 preintervention securely attached children shifted to an insecure classification. Results suggest that the Circle of Security protocol is a promising intervention for the reduction of disorganized and insecure attachment in high-risk toddlers and preschoolers.
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Specific intervention programs including the Circle of Security, Triple P, Video Interaction for Promoting Positive Parenting Programme, and Mom Power have been validated according to randomized clinical trial approaches.
“Specific intervention programs including the Circle of Security (Hoffman et al., 2006; Powell et al., 2014), Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) (Sanders et al., 2014), Video Interaction for Promoting Positive Parenting Programme (Van Zeijl et al., 2006), and Mom Power (Muzik et al., 2015), have been validated according to randomized clinical trial approaches.”
From The maternal brain and its plasticity in humans (2016) · cites this paper as Hoffman et al., 2006
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- Authors
- Hoffman, K. T., Marvin, R. S., Cooper, G., & Powell, B.
- Affiliations
- University of Virginia (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
- Published
- 2006-12
- Volume
- 74
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1017-1026
- ISSN
- 0022-006X (ISSN-L)
- 1939-2117
- OpenAlex
- W2112973080
- Cited by
- 467
- References
- 44
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 31 · 2019: 34 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 36 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 32 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 19
- FWCI
- 13.78
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- US Department of Health and Human Services (90YF0018; 90YD0108)
- FHL Foundation
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Keywords
- attachment classification, disorganized attachment, insecure attachment, secure attachment, toddlers, preschool children, parent education, group therapy, caregiver-child dyads, early childhood intervention, Head Start, Early Head Start, vulnerable children
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Child, Preschool, Education, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Middle Aged, Object Attachment, Parent-Child Relations, Personality Assessment, Psychotherapy, Group, Risk Factors, Treatment Outcome, Early Intervention, Educational, Reactive Attachment Disorder
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