Early experiences and attachment relationships of Greek infants raised in residential group care

In this study, we examined the quality of attachment to caregivers of a group of infants reared in a residential nursery, and the question of how this attachment quality was related to the children’s cognitive and psychosocial development, their observed behaviour and temperament, and the sensitivity of their caregivers. The study was conducted in Greece which is one of the few countries in Europe where it is not uncommon for children to be admitted to residential group care in early infancy, and to be adopted at some later time in the second year of life. Children reared in residential group care present serious cognitive, social and emotional problems (Quinton & Rutter, 1988; Rutter, 1981). Improvements in the quality of institutional care led to a