Longitudinal Attachment Research
Attachment is a dynamic process that evolves throughout the entire life span. To capture this constant change, longitudinal studies (following the same individuals over several years or ideally decades) are needed. Together with SoNeAt Lab’s international collaborators, and in particular Martin Debbane, Tsachi Ein-Dor, Willem Verbeke, and Michal Mokry, we are moving towards this ambitious goal.
Longitudinal Cortical Thickness and Subcortical Volume in Adolescents and Young Adults
In an anatomical brain analysis, cortical thickness (CT) and subcortical volume (SV) trajectories in were assessed in 95 typically developing adolescents (initial ages 12-19) at one to four visits over the course of four years. CT and SV were then related to their self-reported attachment style at study baseline. The corresponding paper is published online in the journal Attachment & Human Development and is freely available here.
More information can be found on this page as part of Dr Vrticka’s website.
Genetics / Epigenetics & Attachment in Children from Birth to Age 10 – Generation R
In a first step, we have obtained access to a longitudinal data set called Generation R from The Netherlands, which assessed genetics and epigenetics of over 600 children at birth and followed them up at age 14 months with the Strange Situation Procedure (SSP), with subsequent testing at ages 5-6 and 9-10. We are currently examining how these measures relate to each other.
Unfortunately, progress on this project has been delayed due to COVID-19. We hope to continue with data analysis as soon as possible.
Genetics / Epigenetics in Couples and Families – Project Alpha
In a second step, Tsachi Ein-Dor has obtained private funding to start collecting data from a new cohort of 1’500 couples from Israel and to follow them through pregnancy, child birth, and child development – Project Alpha. The first set of data are currently being obtained.
More information will be made available here as soon as possible.
Dr Pascal Vrticka (PhD, FHEA) 