Predictors of attachment security in children adopted from China by US families: implication for professional counsellors

ABSTRACT This study investigated children’s age when adopted, time spent with adoptive families, institutionalization experience and parenting styles in predicting attachment security in children adopted from China by US families. Participants were 92 US parents with children adopted from China with a mean age of 19-month old at the time of adoption. Children in this study have spent an average of 5 years with their adoptive parents. Authoritative parenting was found to be a positive predictor, whilst permissive parenting was a negative predictor of attachment security. Results provided practical implications for professional counsellors who work with adoptive families and Chinese adoptees. Results also shed light on future research directions.