Care practices and approaches with children experiencing attachment difficulties: A scoping review

Attachment difficulties in children are linked to negative outcomes including psychiatric disorders, low selfesteem, and socioemotional difficulties. A scoping review was performed to identify evidence-informed care practices and approaches healthcare providers can employ when caring for children with attachment difficulties. Twenty articles were included. Beneficial approaches include: increasing care providers' knowledge of attachment theories; fostering a better understanding of children's needs; limiting the use of behaviour-modification approaches; implementing clinical and organizational practices drawing from attachment theory that avoid restraint use; and adopting attitudes that promote healthy attachment. Ethical considerations raised by these practices are discussed.

Automated summary

Attachment difficulties in children can lead to negative outcomes such as psychiatric disorders, low self-esteem, and socioemotional difficulties. This scoping review identified evidence-based care practices and approaches for healthcare providers when caring for children with attachment difficulties. Beneficial approaches include increasing providers' knowledge of attachment theories, understanding children's needs, limiting behavior-modification approaches, implementing attachment theory-based clinical and organizational practices to avoid restraint use, and promoting healthy attachment attitudes.