An article in The Guardian based on a new report describes how children from disadvantaged backgrounds who bond well with parent are less likely to drop out of school.

“If you are a middle class child and you have an insecure attachment to your parents, that’s unlikely to cause you problems in later life. It could cause you relationship problems or social and emotional problems, but it’s less likely to make you drop out of school,” said Sophie Moullin of Princeton University, one of the report’s authors. “What attachment does, if you are disadvantaged, is to protect you more from that disadvantage. For example, for boys who have grown up in poverty, if they have a secure attachment they are two and a half times less likely to go on and develop behavioural problems at school.”

The report recommends that parents at risk of failing to bond with their children should receive help in the form of programmes promoting good parenting skills, using trained therapists, group sessions and video interaction. Those most at risk should receive more intensive assistance, including home visits.

I did some digging and found the report here with also this summary:

About 60 per cent of children develop strong parental bonds. The 40 per cent who lack such secure attachment are split into 25 per cent who avoid their parents when they are upset, because they ignore their needs, and 15 per cent who resist their parents because they cause them distress.

This is an issue for families from all social classes, but where families have multiple problems up to two-thirds of children have weak parental attachment. The report finds that boys’ behaviour is more affected than girls’ by early parenting.

The research finds that insecure attachment is associated with poorer language and behaviour before school. The effect continues into later life, with insecure children more likely to leave school without further education, employment or training. In one US study of disadvantaged children, the quality of parent care and attachment in the first years was a strong predictor of graduating from high school, alone predicting with 77% accuracy whether children graduated or not. Neither IQ nor test scores improved upon this prediction.

The report also finds that securely attached children are more resilient to poverty, family instability, parental stress and depression. Boys growing up in poverty are two and a half times less likely to display behaviour problems at school if they formed secure attachments with parents in their early years.

Where mothers have weak bonds with their babies, research suggests their children are also more likely to be obese as they enter adolescence. Parents who were insecurely attached themselves, are living in poverty or with poor mental health find it hardest to provide sensitive parenting and bond with their babies.

Today’s report explains how sensitive and responsive parenting in the first years of life is crucial to attachment.  Simple, and often instinctive, actions such as holding a baby lovingly, and responding to their needs, are key to the development of attachment. Equally important might be acknowledging a baby’s unhappiness with facial expressions and then reassuring them with warm, happy smiles and soothing tones.

Conor Ryan, Director of Research at the Sutton Trust said:

“Better bonding between parents and babies could lead to more social mobility, as there is such a clear link to education, behaviour and future employment. The educational divide emerges early in life, with a 19 month school readiness gap between the most and least advantaged children by the age of five.

“This report clearly identifies the fundamental role secure attachment could have in narrowing that school readiness gap and improving children’s life chances. More support from health visitors, children’s centres and local authorities in helping parents improve how they bond with young children could play a role in narrowing the education gap.”

Jane Waldfogel, Professor of Social Work and Public Affairs at Columbia University and a visiting professor at the London School of Economics, said:

“Parents are an important influence on young children’s development and their chances in life. Mothers and fathers influence development through the resources they invest in their children, and the home learning environment they offer. But the emotional bonds they forge with their children also matter. A secure bond or attachment to the parent helps the child manage their behaviour and learn.

“Policy can promote secure attachment by reducing the broader risk factors that undermine parents’ ability to care for their children.  Targeted interventions can also be highly effective in helping parents develop the behaviours that foster secure attachment. Supporting families who are at risk for poor parenting ideally starts early – at birth or even before.”

The report recommends:

·         Children’s Centres focus more on parenting, especially for the under-threes.

·         Health visitors and other health services play a stronger role in supporting attachment and parenting.

·         Local authorities and health services enhance home visiting and offer parenting programmes for higher risk families with babies and toddlers, through the government’s Early Intervention and Troubled Families agendas. Evidenced-based programmes can cost as little as £500 per family, and generate savings to public services later on.