The relationship between attachment styles and parental attitues of convicted and detained mothers

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between attachment styles and parenting attitudes of mothers of prisoners and convicts in penal institutions and to determine the socio-demographic factors affecting this relationship. In the study, it was investigated how attachment styles and parenting attitudes of mothers differed according to their conviction status, age, education level, marital status, length of stay in penal institutions and number of children. In this study, relational survey design, which is among quantitative research methods, was used. The sample of the study consisted of a total of 141 detained and convicted mothers in women's closed and women's open prisons in Ankara. Personal Information Form, Adult Attachment Style Scale (AAS) and Parental Attitudes Scale (PAS) were used as data collection tools. The data were analyzed using SPSS (version 26). Frequency and percentage analyses, independent and paired sample t-test, ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis H, Mann-Whitney U and correlation analyses were used in data analysis. The findings of the study showed that there were statistically significant relationships between attachment styles and parental attitudes. There was a significant and positive correlation between secure attachment style and authoritarian parental attitude. While significant differences were found between age factor and authoritarian attitude, marital status and secure attachment, number of children and overprotective attitude; no significant differences were found in the analysis results related to educational status and time spent in penal institutions. In the analysis according to the conviction status, it was concluded that most of the convicted mothers had an avoidant attachment style. This study showed that attachment styles of mothers in penal institutions are related to parental attitudes and some socio-demographic characteristics. The results of the study aim to contribute to the development of policies to increase the access of mothers in penal institutions to social support systems and to support the healthy development of children.