Summary of Literature Review on Attachment Theory in Adoption

Introduction

Review focuses on understanding psychological mechanisms governing parent-child relationships in adoption contexts.
Attachment defined as the emotional and psychological bond between a child and caregiver, crucial in early life stages (Gagliardi, 2024).
Safe attachment fosters mental health and social adaptation (Bowlby, 1982) and impacts children's ability to form stable relationships (Saunders et al., 2015).
Adopted children often face identity issues due to their transition to a new familial environment, highlighting the need for safe attachment.
Adoptive parents must cultivate trust and acceptance to address previous traumatic experiences (Subhani et al., 2014).
The quality of attachment influences the child’s psychosocial development and future relational capabilities.

Two main concepts analyzed: definition of safe attachment and significance of adoption.
Safe attachment relates to the ability to create and maintain healthy relationships under emotional support (Saunders et al., 2015).
Attachment theory originated from John Bowlby's work, emphasizing early child-caregiver relationships' role in personality and psychological well-being (Bowlby, 1989).
Mary Ainsworth's "Strange Situation" (1978) empirically confirmed Bowlby's proposals, categorizing attachment patterns: secure, insecure-avoidant, insecure-ambivalent, and disorganized.
Adoption encompasses legal, psychological, and social dimensions crucial for a child's integration into a new family (Brodzinsky et al., 2022).
Emotional safety and mental health of the adopted child are central concerns, with particular attention to feelings of belonging and insecurities during adjustment (Barone & Lionetti, 2011).
Emphasizes need for intervention strategies to enhance attachment processes and promote stable mental states for adopted children (Subhani et al., 2014).

Parent education programs aim to equip adoptive parents with necessary knowledge and skills to understand and promote safe attachment, ultimately fostering emotional connections with their children (Razuri et al., 2015).