Examining the implications of early adolescent attachment on out-of-home placement and family courts

Abstract

Few scholars have examined early adolescent attachment in child welfare, where placement is a necessary but forced attachment disruption. The purpose of this nonexperimental quantitative study was to examine the responses of 18- to 24-year-olds (n = 83) who had been in out-of-home care, comparing early adolescent versus non-early adolescent placement, placement setting, and sibling accessibility on attachment. Results showed early adolescents were almost half as likely to be securely attached postplacement than other age ranges and the importance of family-like placements and maintaining peer relationships.