Patterns of attachment and parents' adjustment to the death of their child

The impact of adult attachment on psychological
adjustment among bereaved parents and the mediating
effect of relationship satisfaction were examined among
a sample of 219 couples of parents. Data collection
took place 6, 13, and 20 months after loss. Use of the
actor partner interdependence model in multilevel
regression analysis enabled exploration of both individual
as well as partner attachment as predictors of grief
and depression. Results indicated that the more insecurely
attached parents were (on both avoidance and
anxiety attachment), the higher the symptoms of grief
and depression. Neither the attachment pattern of the
partner nor similarity of attachment within the couple
had any influence on psychological adjustment of the
parent. Marital satisfaction partially mediated the association
of anxious attachment with symptomatology.
Contrary to previous research findings, avoidant attachment
was associated with high grief intensity. These
findings challenge the notion that the avoidantly
attached are resilient.