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: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

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
Pages (from-to)89-111
Number of pages23
JournalJournal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions
Volume6
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - 25 Jul 2006

Funding

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

    Keywords

    • Attachment styles
    • Children of drug-using fathers
    • Family cohesion and adaptability
    • Parental impact

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