Colman Noctor: Why parent-child attachment styles are important to understand

The attachment style a child forms with their caregiver significantly influences how they approach relationships as adults. Securely attached children tend to become adults comfortable with intimacy and trusting others easily.  Those with insecure attachments (anxious, avoidant, or disorganised) may struggle with trust, emotional regulation, or forming healthy, close relationships

Dr Colman Noctor: "To best provide a secure base, parents should respond sensitively and consistently to the child's needs, showing affection, patience, and emotional and physical presence."

One of our most profound desires as parents is to ensure our children feel loved, secure, and supported. For years, attachment theory has been discussed as offering invaluable insights into how early interactions shape our children's emotional development and their relationships throughout life.

However, the concept of attachment theory can be misunderstood. It is unhelpful to think of attachment styles as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, ‘disordered’ or ‘ordered’. We all develop attachment styles over our lives — they are ways of being rather than pathological disorders.