Attachment & interpersonal functioning in Intellectual Disability
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Attachment and interpersonal functioning in referred and non-referred individuals with an Intellectual Disability
IRAS ID
238093
Contact name
Leonardo De Pascalis
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Liverpool
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 30 days
Research summary
Attachment theory proposes that the relationships that we develop as infants with our primary caregivers (termed‘attachment’ relationships) impact upon our emotional development. It has been established that individual differences in the quality of attachment relationships can be observed and measured, and that these individual differences can affect the child’s developing ability to manage its emotional state, and particularly to cope with distress.
Research has demonstrated a link between the quality of attachment relationships in infancy and the way that adults later talk about and make sense of their attachment history. The content and form of this talk is thought, under expert analysis,to reveal a person's 'state of mind' with respect to their attachment experiences. Individual differences in adults' state of mind regarding attachment have been shown to link to emotional/psychological well−being, and interpersonal functioning, and thus can be useful in understanding clinical presentations (especially where emotional distress is present), and in developing appropriate treatments.
Research has demonstrated that children with learning disabilities are at greater risk of developing attachment relationships that are non−optimal (termed 'insecure' in the literature). It has been hypothesised that attachment theory may aid understanding of clinical presentations in adults with learning disabilities. This study aims to see if there are differences in attachment between individuals with an Intellectual Disability who are referred for psychological therapy (for the purposes of the research these individuals will form the 'referred' group and be recruited from Learning Disability Teams), and those who are not (for the purposes of the research these individuals will form the 'non-referred' group and be recruited from advocacy groups). It also hopes to discover if there are differences in interpersonal functioning (i.e. how someone gets on with other people) between individuals with an Intellectual Disability who are referred for psychological therapy, and those who are not.REC name
London - Dulwich Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/1222
Date of REC Opinion
29 Aug 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion