| Abstract: | Summary A group of children identified as non-organic failure-to-thrivebetween 1977 and 1980 were investigated, assessed and providedwith social work intervention and treatment. Those childrenand their families have been followed up for the last 20 years.The current paper examines the stability of an internal workingmodel in a sample of individuals who had failed to thrive aschildren, by comparing each individual's adult attachment stylewith their childhood attachment to their mother. In this sample,several cases showed changes from insecure to secure attachmentstyles. Possible reasons are discussed for positive and negativechanges, as well as cases when there was no change in attachmentstyle. These include the effectiveness of intervention in additionto changes in life circumstances. The findings suggest thatwhen appropriate support and intervention is provided, or whendifferent circumstances or relationships are experienced, internalworking models can change. |
