Attachment and trauma in adults with ID
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Attachment in adults with intellectual disabilities: Investigating the relationship between attachment security and trauma symptoms.
IRAS ID
126017
Contact name
Melanie J Powney
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Research summary
Intellectual disability (ID) is a disability which starts before the age of 18 and is characterised by significant difficulties with social skills, practical skills, learning, reasoning and problem solving.
Research indicates that people with ID are more likely than people without ID to experience traumatic life events such as abuse, moving house and early separation from their parents due to hospital admissions or being taken into care. Evidence suggests that symptoms of mental health problems increase with the number of traumatic life events that people with ID experience.
In people without ID, secure early relationships (attachment) between infants and their care givers has been shown to be protective in reducing the likelihood of developing mental health problems in later life in response to stressful life events. Although research has shown that people with ID are less likely to have secure attachments, little research has been done which looks at whether secure attachment is related to the occurrence of trauma symptoms in response to traumatic life events.
This research project is particularly interested in looking at whether the quality of attachment relationships is related to the severity of trauma symptoms in people with ID. To do this, at least 60 service users will be asked to complete a questionnaire that measures trauma symptoms. Staff members who know the service users well will be asked to complete a questionnaire that measures trauma symptoms and another questionnaire that identifies the quality of attachment relationships. Statistical analysis will be done to identify whether attachment, quality of relationships and trauma symptoms are related.
It is hoped that a greater understanding of the relationship between trauma and attachment will lead to more effective therapies being developed for people with ID.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/NW/0401
Date of REC Opinion
21 Jun 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion