ATTACHMENT STYLE INTERVIEW - ADOPTION / FOSTERING (ASI-AF)
The ASI-AF is a structured interview which can be reliably used to assess to level of support a carer (parent, relative, foster or adopter) enjoys in conjunction with their underlying attachment style. The ASI-AF therefore offers a valuable insight into the ability of the carer to withstand stress and avoid placement breakdown.
We are able to offer commissioning Organisations our independent services in undertaking ASI-AF interviewing with service users or carers. The ASI-AF is particularly useful in assessing:
Kinship Care Placements.
Foster Carers.
Adopters.
Natural Parents where there are issues regarding safeguarding a child.
The following is adapted from: Information Sheet pack for Social Workers using the ASI-AF interview Produced by A. Bifculo & C. Jacobs, Royal Holloway College, University of London, Lifespan Research Group, Bedford Square (2007). For training on ASI-AF please contact Royal Holloway College.
The
ASI –AF is an interview which assessed characteristics of parents and carers
in terms of the quality of close relationships, social support and security of
attachment style.
The
ASI-AF measures adult attachment style in relation to a person’s ability to
access and utilise social support. As such it belongs to the ‘social
psychology’ strand of investigation attachment style. The ASI-AF provides
categorisation of attachment style for individuals, as well as assesses their
specific support context and quality of close relationships. The resultant
attachment profile not only determines which style best characterises them (e.g.
Secure, Enmeshed, Fearful, Angry-dismissive or Withdrawn), but also to the
extent to which insecure styles are dysfunctional in terms of whether the person
is ‘Markedly’, ‘Moderately’ or ‘Mildly’ Insecure. This is important,
given evidence that ‘Mildly Insecure’ styles carry less risk of mental
health problems.
It
should be stressed that the ASI-AF does not assess parenting behaviour. However,
the measure has been shown to predict depression and marital/partner problems,
which are correlated with parenting problems. Highly insecure attachment styles
also relate to low self esteem, conflictual or distant relationships and adverse
childhood experience. The ASI-AF’s role in the adoption/fostering process is
primarily to aid the identification of both vulnerability and resilience factors
in carers in order to promote the latter. These are framed in terms of having
suitable support and appropriate help-seeking in crises, which will aid in
keeping placements stable
WHAT
DOES THE ASI-AF ASSESS?
1)
Support
from close others:
The first part of the ASI-AF interview questions in detail the quality of
support received through the relationship with partner, with other close support
figures and family of origin at the time of assessment. Good support is
identified as a high level of confiding or sharing of personal information on
important issues including emotions and worries, with active emotional and
practical support offered. It also assesses the extent to which the
relationships are smooth or involve discord and the degree of attachment and
closeness in the relationship. Actual examples of confiding are required.
2)
Ability
to make and maintain relationships:
In summarising the number of close supportive relationships a scoring is made of
how good the individual is at making supportive relationships. Those objectively
rated ‘Marked’ or ‘Moderate’ have very good or good levels of support
and are considered to be secure in their relating style. Thos with ‘little /
no’ support relationships are considered to be less good at making
relationships and are scored as insecure in their interpersonal style.
3)
Negative
attitudes about closeness: The
second part of the interview asks questions to ascertain the reasons for
attitudes which a person can have that form blockages in obtaining support from
close others. This includes those attitudes that create distance from others
e.g. high mistrust, psychological barriers to getting close to people, fear of
rejection or anger. It also includes attitudes that create over-dependence on
others, low self-reliance in decision making and high fear of separation from
loved ones.
4)
Overall
attachment style:
This is then derived according to an established procedure. Those with good
support and positive attitudes to others are rated as ‘clearly secure’ and
those with good support and some negative attitudes are cored Mildly Insecure.
However those with poor support, inability to make relationships and a series of
negative attitudes are scored Markedly or Moderately insecure in their
attachment style. Insecure attachment styles: are either of an anxiously attached
nature (Enmeshed or Fearful) or are of an avoidant nature (Angry-dismissive or
Withdrawn).
INSECURE
STYLES AS SCORED ON ASI-AF (these can be at different levels – marked,
moderately or mildly insecure):
|
Anxious
Enmeshed Style |
This
is a sociable style. People with this style like company, and enjoy having
others around them much of the time and are generally quite trusting.
Other people’s opinions are very important to them making up their mind.
However they can get anxious when those close to them are away and they
have to spend time alone. |
|
Anxious
Fearful Style |
This
is a sensitive and perceptive style. People with this style are cautious
about getting close to others because they tend to feel they may be let
down. They values closeness and want close relationships. However they
feel apprehensive about some aspects of close relationships such as when
others are away and what others may thin k of them. |
|
Avoidant
Angry-Dismissive Style |
This
is an assertive style. People with this style are very independent minded
and like to manage without other people’s help. They can manage well on
their own and can assert themselves in arguments or disputes. However they
tend to be cautious about getting close to others because thy find other
people can be unreliable and get annoyed when they get let down. They
often think that other people can’t be trusted and are often just out
for themselves. |
|
Avoidant
Withdrawn Style |
This
is an independent style and people with this style value their privacy and
need time alone. They do not get easily angry or upset about others
letting them down, however they are cautious about getting close to other
people and like to rely on their own judgements in making decisions. |
CLEARLY
SECURE STYLES AS SCORED ON THE ASI-AF:
 | Have
close support from at least two of the close people around them and a range
of good relationships to help in future crises |
| Have
positive attitudes to other people, which will help them to trust others and
seek help when needed. Their low levels of anger and fear of rejection in
relationships will be low. |
| Are
comfortable getting close to others and are able to rely on others for help
and advice. They like company but also don’t mind spending time alone.
They trust others easily and do not get readily angry or upset at being let
down. |
| Those
with a clearly secure attachment style are much less likely to have risk of
emotional health problems under stress. Such styles are associated with good
social support, high self-esteem and lack of neglect or abuse in childhood. |
Mildly
Insecure styles as scored on the ASI-AF:
| People
with mildly insecure styles, still have good enough support from close
figures around them. This is from at least two of the close people around
them and a range of good relationships to help in future crises. |
| Have
some negative attitudes about closeness such as mistrust which may cause
some blockages to getting help when they need it, perhaps when there is a
crisis, but generally will have learned to overcome this and are able to ask
for support when needed. |
| Mildly
insecure attachment style does not increase the risk of mental health
problems under stress. Such styles are associated with good social support,
self-esteem and lack of neglect or abuse in childhood. |
Markedly
or Moderately insecure styles as scored by ASI-AF:
| People
with Markedly or Moderately Insecure styles have insufficient support from
the adults around them in terms of full and open confiding and positive
supportive response. Therefore those with insecure styles are less likely to
be resilient when dealing with stressful situations because they have less
support and are less likely to approach services for help. |
| Their
current relationships are characterised wither by distance, or by a lot of
argument. Markedly insecure styles in particular are able to access very
little support from those around them. |
| They
have negative attitudes about closeness, such as mistrust or fear, which
will impede their ability to make supportive relationships. |
| Those
with insecure attachment styles are more prone to emotional problems
(depressions or anxiety) and are more likely to have had an abusive or
neglectful childhood which is still affecting them. Also many have a history
of poor marital and adult relationships. |
| Those
with an insecure attachment style tend to be more affected by life
stressors, such as problems with family or other areas. |
| Insecure
styles can be associated with more problematic parenting and those with
insecure styles are less likely to have homes with the best emotional
atmosphere for their children. |
ATTACHMENT
STYLE CHANGE:
| It
is established that insecurity of attachment style can change over time, for
example becoming insecure if a person has a major loss or negative change in
a close relationship, becoming more isolated or under a lot of stress. Also,
people may retain the same basic style but feel it more intensely under
stress. |
| Those
with more insecure styles are more likely to change in a positive way.
Positive change is dictated by positive increases in partner relationship
and support from very close others. |