Negative reactivity and attachment: Down syndrome's contribution to the attachment-temperament debate

This longitudinal study investigated the relation between negative reactivi ty and attachment in children with Down syndrome (DS). Specifically, we exa mined whether extremely low negative reactivity is associated with the enac tment and organization of attachment behaviors. To address this issue 30 in fants with DS (13 female, 17 male) were observed in Ainsworth's Strange Sit uation at 19 and 27 months. The intensity and duration of distress reaction s were coded in 15-s intervals throughout each Strange Situation episode. C hildren's distress intensity during separations From caregivers was used to place children into Low versus Moderate/High Negative Reactivity groups. I n addition, ratings of infants' social interactive behaviors (contact maint enance, proximity seeking, distance interaction, resistance, and avoidance) were made for each episode and used to assess the quality of infants' atta chment relationships. The data indicated that there are high rates of Type A and D insecure attachments within the DS population at each age studied. However, low negative reactivity was not consistently related to the activa tion of the attachment behavioral system, or associated with insecure attac hment relationships. Alternative explanations for the high rate of insecure attachments are discussed.