Purpose:
This study investigates the long-term influence of childhood attachment experiences within institutional care settings on the development of mentalization in later life.
Method:
Utilizing a cross-sequence research model, we recruited three groups of participants representing distinct care trajectories: (A) children aged 8-12 within six months of entering care, (B) adolescents aged 12-18 with over five years of institutional placement, and (C) care leavers aged 18 and above. Data collection combined quantitative assessments—including the Wechsler Intelligence Scales, Thematic Apperception Test, Reflective Function Questionnaire (RFQ-54), and mental health inventories—with qualitative semi-structured interviews informed by the Child and Adult Attachment Interviews. Participants were followed at baseline, six months, and one year, with monthly diary entries documenting stress events and self-rated mentalizing and psychological well-being.
Results:
Preliminary findings are expected to reveal distinctive mentalization profiles across groups, shaped by early attachment quality, duration of institutional care, and transitions to independent living. It is anticipated that stable, sensitive caregiving within institutional settings may buffer against deficits in reflective functioning, whereas inconsistent caregiving and disrupted familial ties may exacerbate emotional regulation challenges and interpersonal difficulties. Longitudinal analyses will explore trajectories of mentalizing capacity and psychosocial adaptation, integrating quantitative changes with narrative accounts of self-perception, emotional experience, and relational patterns.
Conclusions:
This research contributes to understanding how early relational environments influence reflective functioning into adulthood, with implications for designing attachment-informed interventions in residential care and post-care support services. The integration of developmental, clinical, and social perspectives aims to inform policy and practice, ultimately promoting resilience and mental health among individuals with institutional care histories.