Effectiveness of Attachment-Based Interventions for Maltreated Children’s Well-Being: A Systematic Review

Many parenting interventions have been developed and implemented to mitigate the adverse effects of child maltreatment on children’s well-being. Intervention approaches rooted in attachment theory have the potential to improve the psychosocial and health outcomes of maltreated children by addressing parenting behaviors and caregiver–child relationships. However, few review studies have focused on assessing the impact of attachment-based parenting interventions on maltreated children’s psychosocial outcomes. The current systematic review synthesized findings from 30 attachment-based intervention studies (N = 1,423) that examined maltreated children’s emotional, behavioral, physiological, cognitive, and health outcomes post-interventions. The overall effectiveness varied across interventions, with many studies constrained by small sample sizes and reporting nonsignificant findings. Notably, short-term, attachment-based interventions using in-the-moment coaching tailored to families’ needs and administered by experienced providers tended to result in improved child outcomes. We conclude with suggestions for future directions in attachment-based intervention research.