| This study explored how a new, and possibly first, attachment relationship between adoptive mothers and their Chinese daughters develops over the first 6 months following institutional care. Thirty-three, 14-month-old infants adopted from China were matched with 33 nonadopted Canadian comparison infants. The process of the emerging attachment relationship and short-term outcomes of attachment development were examined using parent reports and direct observation of attachment behaviours. Attachment security, behaviours related to disturbances of attachment, attachment behaviours in response to everyday attachment-related situations (i.e., when the child is hurt, frightened or separated), and behavioural systems evoked during times of distress were explored over time.; The findings indicate that children adopted from China begin to show signs of forming an attachment with their adoptive mothers from early on in the relationship. Initially, Chinese adoptees exhibit few attachment concerns and do not significantly differ from comparison children with respect to attachment security, behaviours related to disturbances of attachment, displays of insecure attachment behaviours or activation of the attachment behavioural system during times of distress. However, subtle qualitative differences were found. Specially, some Chinese adoptees do not actively seek comfort from parents, do not react to pain when hurt, exhibit more extreme behaviours in response to distress, and exhibit high levels of attachment behaviour in non-stressful situations. Over the first 6 months, Chinese adoptees exhibit an increase in attachment security and display more secure attachment behaviour during times of distress. While a handful of Chinese adoptees show subtle signs of atypical attachment behaviours initially, for the most part, these dissipate by 6 months postadoption. In particular, they actively seek comfort from parents, react to pain when hurt, exhibit developmentally appropriate clingy behaviour with mothers, and are better able to regulate emotions.; In general, the increased risk for attachment concerns, often associated with internationally adopted children, is not characteristic of most Chinese adoptees. The moderate emotional deprivation experienced by children adopted from Chinese institutions does not appear to hinder their ability to readily form a mother-child attachment relationship. Attachment appears open to rapid change, even after an age when attachment relationships have typically been established. |
