The child in the family of a drug-using father: Attachment styles and family characteristics

Ricky Finzi-Dottan*, Orna Cohen, Dorota Iwaniec, Yaffa Sapir, Abraham Weizman

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

The study examined the impact of family characteristics and parental attachment styles on the children of drug-using (DU) fathers in fifty-six families (n = 168) in Israel. Of the DU fathers, 60.7% were characterized by avoidant attachment style. Among the non-DU mothers, 53.6% were characterized by secure attachment style, 42.9% by avoidant style, and 3.6% by anxious/ambivalent style. Surprisingly, family cohesion and adaptability scores were similar to the Israeli norm, perhaps because the DUs had completed detoxification treatment and participated in rehabilitation programs. Of the children, 61.8% were characterized by secure attachment style, 21.8% by avoidant style, and 16.4% by anxious/ambivalent style. Stepwise regression to predict children's attachment styles revealed that maternal security of attachment and paternal anxious/ambivalent style predict similar attachment styles among the children. The important combined effects of spousal attachment styles on the children are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationImpact of Substance Abuse on Children and Families
Subtitle of host publicationResearch and Practice Implications
PublisherTaylor and Francis
Pages89-112
Number of pages24
ISBN (Print)9780203462638
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2012

Funding

FundersFunder number
Petach-Tiqva
Center for Mental Health Services
Tel Aviv University
China Social Welfare Foundation
Ministry of Rural Affairs

    Keywords

    • Children of drug-using fathers
    • attachment styles
    • family cohesion and adaptability
    • parental impact

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