Reactive Attachment Disorder Causes & Risk Factors

Conditions & Diseases: Psychological & Mental Health

Reactive Attachment Disorder

Causes and Risk Factors

The cause of reactive attachment disorder is not known, but researchers believe that a combination of several factors contribute to the onset and development of the disorder.

According to the traditional attachment theory, a child develops a sense of security, safety and trust when the people and environment around them provide stability, comfort, and nurturing. Their emotional and physical needs have to be consistently met with a caring and positive attitude (establishing eye contact, having a warm face expression - smiling, and sharing kind words), otherwise the child becomes insecure around adults, feels rejected, and in time develops a distrustful and unattached personality.

Several risk factors can contribute to the occurrence of reactive attachment disorder.

Parental or caregiver related risk factors:

Being abused, neglected, and abandoned by primary caregivers.
Inexperienced parents that provide inconsistent or inappropriate care.
Aggressive behavior towards children when they request comfort.
Being raised by parents with different psychological conditions (such as unipolar or bipolar disorder, postpartum depression, substance abuse, anger management problems, or attachment disorder).
Maternal ambivalence toward pregnancy.

Child related risk factors:

Difficult temperament
Premature birth
Suffering from painful or undiagnosed illnesses
Being separated from parents/caregivers due to prolong hospitalization
Suffering a birth or prenatal trauma

Environment related risk factors:

Living in orphanages.
Frequent changes in foster care or caregivers.
Being separated from birth parents as the result of divorce, death, or serious illnesses.

Article by Alina Morrow
MS Psychology
Medical Writer
OmniMedicalSearch.com