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

## TL;DR

This review examines how attachment-based interventions affect the well-being of maltreated children, finding that tailored, short-term approaches can improve outcomes.

## Contribution

The study provides a systematic review of attachment-based interventions for maltreated children, highlighting effective intervention characteristics.

## Key findings

- Short-term, tailored attachment-based interventions improved child outcomes.
- Many studies had small sample sizes and nonsignificant results.
- Experienced providers administering in-the-moment coaching were more effective.

## Abstract

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.