The Significance of Insecure Attachment and Disorganization in the Development of Children’s Externalizing Behavior: A Meta‐Analytic Study

This study addresses the extent to which insecure and disorganized attachments increase risk for externalizing problems using meta‐analysis. From 69 samples ( N = 5,947), the association between insecurity and externalizing problems was significant, d = 0.31 (95% CI: 0.23, 0.40). Larger effects were found for boys ( d = 0.35), clinical samples ( d = 0.49), and from observation‐based outcome assessments ( d = 0.58). Larger effects were found for attachment assessments other than the Strange Situation. Overall, disorganized children appeared at elevated risk ( d = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.18, 0.50), with weaker effects for avoidance ( d = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.21) and resistance ( d = 0.11, 95% CI: −0.04, 0.26). The results are discussed in terms of the potential significance of attachment for mental health.