Attachment and Relationships

Humans are social beings. Connecting with others is an important part of our development. Early attachment relationships impact a child’s ability to trust others, manage emotional responses, and establish interdependence and positive self-worth.

Safe and secure attachment relationships early in life give us the confidence to explore and interact with the world. A child who experiences attentive parenting, instability, separation, loss, and chaotic or disrupted environments may form insecure attachment relationships. However, this can change later in life by new experiences, interventions, family cohesion, and other supportive relationships.

Our experiences of attachment impact the health of our relationships, across our lifespan and at every stage of development. Healthy relationships can increase attachment security at any stage of development, leading to improved outcomes.

Resources and Reports

Here you can find resources and information that explore attachment and relationships in individuals with FASD.

Interwoven Connections (External Organization)
Interwoven Connections represents the tapestry of families and relationships formed through adoption, kinship and customary care. They create spaces and experiences where parents and caregivers feel seen and heard. They provide education, advocacy, and community to families and the professionals that support them.

Understanding the Impact of Trauma in PAE and FASD (webinar)
CanFASD, April 2026
In this webinar recording, presenters share current research on the effects of trauma and adversity on individuals with PAE and FASD. They also explore collaborative approaches to interventions and give examples of real world implications.

Male Partner Violence Against Women with Cognitive Disabilities (Guide)
November 2020
Women with cognitive disabilities experience male partner violence at a higher rate than non-disabled women. They also tend to remain in abusive relationships for longer, due in part to their social isolation and a lack of appropriately adapted services. This Guide, which is based on a review of literature and interviews with five experienced practitioners, offers some general guidance for community outreach workers supporting women with cognitive disabilities after the initial crisis of ending an abusive relationship.

Research

Issue Papers

Papers summarizing key issues related to attachment and relationships in individuals with FASD include:

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Adversity (2020)
People with FASD have higher rates of chronic and complex stress and adversity compared to other disability groups. This paper explores the research in this area and outlines recommendations for how to build targeted interventions to ultimately improve outcomes.