A8achment in Children in Need of Protection

Abstract

Early childhood is a critical developmental period during which aNachment relationships are
established and the child’s social-emotional development takes shape. The quality of the
relationship formed with the caregiver during this period plays a decisive role in the child’s
emotional regulation skills, social relationships, and psychosocial adjustment in later life.
Children raised in institutional care, however, may face various risks in aNachment development
due to factors such as caregiver turnover, high child-to-caregiver ratios, and limited
individualized interaction. The aim of this review study is to examine research on aNachment
paNerns among children aged zero to six years in institutional care and to evaluate existing
findings within a comprehensive framework. A review of the literature indicates that children
raised in institutional care have lower rates of secure aNachment and higher rates of insecure,
particularly disorganized, aNachment paNerns. However, it is noted that aNachment-based
intervention programs and practices aimed at increasing caregiver sensitivity can have positive
effects on children’s aNachment behaviors and developmental indicators. In Turkey, however,
studies directly addressing aNachment paNerns in institutional care are limited, and there is a
need for research focusing specifically on the early childhood period. In this regard, it is
recommended that practices supporting the aNachment development of young children in
institutional care be expanded and that more comprehensive research be conducted in this area.