Mothers' reactions to their child's diagnosis: Relations with security of attachment

Presents a theoretical model based on attachment theory as a framework for understanding the processes involved in parents' resolutions versus nonresolution of their reaction to receiving their child's diagnosis of cerebral palsy. The Reaction to Diagnosis Interview (RDI), a 15-min interview designed to assess parental resolutions of a child's diagnosis, is described. To assess the validity of the RDI, 70 mothers of infant and preschool children with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy were administered the RDI, and the security of each child's attachment to his or her mother was assessed using the Strange Situation. Results indicate that parental resolution versus nonresolution of the child's diagnosis is strongly associated with secure versus insecure child-parent attachment. Results are discussed in terms of the validity of the RDI, implications for clinical research and theory, and the potential use of the RDI as a clinical assessment procedure.