La théorie de l'attachement: Son importance dans un contexte pédiatrique

Pediatricians are frequently the first professionals to observe the early caregiving relationships and their impact in the development of the child. These early relationships, their formation, quality and related issues on development are amply included within the pediatric assessment framework. This paper presents a general vision of attachment theory and research, which can be useful to understand the quality of the care as well as the baby's attachment organisation to his parental figures. We will describe the developmental phases of attachment's relationships and the research related to the factors influencing their organisational differences. From a developmental point of view, the association between attachment and psychopathology will also be explored. We will Pediatricians are frequently the first professionals to observe the early caregiving relationships and their impact in the development of the child. These early relationships, their formation, quality and related issues on development are amply included within the pediatric assessment framework. This paper presents a general vision of attachment theory and research, which can be useful to understand the quality of the care as well as the baby's attachment organisation to his parental figures. We will describe the developmental phases of attachment's relationships and the research related to the factors influencing their organisational differences. From a developmental point of view, the association between attachment and psychopathology will also be explored. We will conclude with a short revision of the clinical implications of attachment theory for the paediatric practice.