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Adult Attachment in Children Raised by Parents with Schizophrenia

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Abstract

Maternal schizophrenia is known to have an adverse effect on the quality of mother–infant interaction; and children of parents with severe mental illness run a higher risk of poor mental health and social outcomes. Hence, children raised by a parent with schizophrenia may be less likely to attain secure attachment, although there is less evidence so far to support this. Moreover, there is a lack of research in this field that focusses on the needs and experiences, the strengths and vulnerabilities, of the children themselves. Qualitative methods are thus needed to generate new insights and hypotheses. The present study uses semi-structured interviews with 23 adults who, as children, were raised with a parent who experienced schizophrenia. This reveals a range of attachment problems, resulting in difficulties in forming secure adult relationships. Problems with trust and intimacy were found to be common.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Schizophrenia Fellowship of New Zealand, and was approved by the Massey University Human Ethics Committee. The authors gratefully acknowledge the peer support of Professor Marilyn Waring and Drs Elaine Mordoch and Karen Graham. It is noted, with sadness, that one of the participants (Reba) has passed away since the interview.

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Correspondence to Grant Duncan.

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Duncan, G., Browning, J. Adult Attachment in Children Raised by Parents with Schizophrenia. J Adult Dev 16, 76–86 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-009-9054-2

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