THE ATTACHMENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHILDREN IN NEED OF PROTECTION AND THEIR CAREGIVERS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD PERIOD

Attachment is taken form through care process and interactions between a newborn child and the mother which is important acquisition for the social and emotional development of children during early development period. Due to the early childhood is critical period for attachment, problems such as the experience of an insecure attachment relationship, the interruption or failure of attachment in this period continue to affect person in a negative way during the later developmental periods through mental mechanisms called internal working models. Children who are separated from their parents and protected for different reasons have both insecure attachment experiences from previous family experiences and attempts to establish new attachment relationships with many caregivers in institutional care. The purpose of the study is to assess attachment behavior patterns in children under protection and the attachment relationships they build with caregivers in institutions. In this direction, one-on-one interviews were conducted using the "Attachment Care Environment Interview Form" and “Attachment Functions Questionnaire” prepared by the researchers with 150 caregivers working in the Children's Homes serving under the Provincial Directorate of the Ministry of Family, Working and Social Works of Istanbul. The caregivers stated that they generally provide the attachment functions. and stated that they provided these functions in a large way. According to the results of the study, the number of children per caregiver, the number of caregivers per child, educational and professional experience significantly affect the ability of caregivers to achieve some attachment functions. Long stay in institution and maltreatment history were considered as negative factors. On the other hand, being in early development, being in the same institution with the sibling, and home-type new care services make it easier for children to have emotional bonds with caregivers. Finally, anxious attachment, indiscriminate friendliness and disorganized attachment behaviors are more common in children under the care in Children's Homes in our country more than inhibited and avoidant attachment patterns. At the end of the study, the suggestions were provided to support safe attachment formation in children who are in need of protection

Keywords

Children in Need of Protection, Attachment, Children’s Homes, Maintenance staff