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Abstract

This dissertation investigates adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their impact on looked after children’s (LAC) attachment and relationships. It defines ACEs as traumatic or stressful childhood experiences such as abuse, neglect and household dysfunction that have life-long effects on children and adolescents’ health and wellbeing (Boullier & Blair, 2018; Allen & Donkin, 2018). LAC are children who have been taken into custody of their local government for over 24 hours and have often experienced multiple ACEs (Jacklin et al., 2007; NSPCC, 2022). From researching this topic, it was found that many LAC had experienced ACEs and that they are common within childhood with detrimental effects on children if they were not supported. This literature review used Bowlby’s Attachment Theory (1969) and Ainsworth’s Strange Situation (1970) to identify the importance of having a secure relationship between children and their caregivers and what the effects might be if children did not have this close bond. However, it also criticised these theories and gave an alternate view of Honneth’s Theory of Recognition (1995), where it was believed that children can form attachments outside of their main caregivers. The review also looks at various interventions and strategies to help LAC form secure bonds and overcome the detrimental effects that ACEs have on their health, development, and education including life story work and multi-agency working, and the role of local authorities, social workers, foster carers and practitioners in supporting them and implementing a trauma-informed approach.

Course: Childhood and Youth Studies - BA (Hons) - C1989F

Date Deposited: 2024-05-15

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis14401.html