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Instructor/Advisor

Sara McPhee Lafkas, Ed.D., LICSW

Keywords

Divorce, relationships, attachment styles

Abstract

Disruptions in family dynamics due to separations can affect the children’s attachment styles, in turn impacting the ability to form and maintain stable relationships in adulthood. This systematic literature review explores what existing findings are regarding the impact of attachment styles and relationship functioning of children due to family structure disruptions, such as divorce or separation of parental figures. Drawing from attachment theory, the final identified 20 empirical articles in this review examine how parental conflicts, emotional security and consistency from the caregivers could have an influence on the development of secure, anxious, or avoidant patterns. Attachment related challenges can lead to difficulties in relationship forming, maintaining, and communication as the child goes through adulthood. Some of the findings also suggest how family systems theory can better explain how disruption of family dynamics and communication further contribute to the development of specific attachment styles. Other identified studies for the review indicate that children from divorced families have a higher chance of developing insecure attachment styles such as anxious or avoidant. Findings additionally suggest how children with insecure or avoidant attachment styles can display difficulties in emotional regulation, trust, and commitment later in life. Furthermore , findings in this review identify how protective factors, such as therapeutic interventions and strong parental support, can help children mitigate negative effects and become more able to develop healthy relationship connections and positive attachment patterns.

Broken Bonds: The Lasting Effects of Divorce and Family Separation on Attachment and Relationships

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