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Attachment theory and research: what should be on the core curriculum for child and family social workers?

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Title: Attachment theory and research: what should be on the core curriculum for child and family social workers?
Authors: Foster, Sarah L.1 (AUTHOR) sarah.l.foster@northumbria.ac.uk, Schofield, Gillian2 (AUTHOR), Geoghegan, Luke3 (AUTHOR), Hood, Rick4 (AUTHOR), Sagi-Schwartz, Abraham5,6 (AUTHOR), Bakkum, Lianne7 (AUTHOR), Hutchinson, Dustin8,9 (AUTHOR), Balk, William10 (AUTHOR), Devine, Richard9,11 (AUTHOR), Steele, Miriam12 (AUTHOR), Steele, Howard12 (AUTHOR), Duncan, Ross13 (AUTHOR), Guthrie, Jenni13,14 (AUTHOR), Mannes, Julia9 (AUTHOR), Talia, Alessandro15 (AUTHOR), Pickerden, Jane E.16 (AUTHOR), Senior, Lucy17 (AUTHOR), Bailey, Luke16 (AUTHOR), Stanton, Cathrine1 (AUTHOR), Allen, Brian18 (AUTHOR)
Source: Social Work Education. Apr2026, Vol. 45 Issue 3, p803-820. 18p.
Subject Terms: *Social work education, *Required courses (Education), Attachment theory (Psychology), Social work with children, Nurturing behavior, Need (Psychology)
Abstract: Attachment theory is one of the core theories proposed for child and family social work, but concerns have been raised regarding misunderstandings and misapplications. Misinformation about attachment is widespread, and texts and teaching on attachment theory often emphasize aspects of the theory that have limited value for applied practice while other elements with greater practice value are often overlooked. As an international group of social work and clinical educators, practitioners, and attachment researchers, we propose an updating of the core social work curriculum on attachment. We present eight core concepts from attachment theory and research. These concepts support thinking about children's relational needs and behavior, caregiving characteristics, and broader contextual factors. We argue that these concepts are particularly relevant for social work with children and families and should form the basis of teaching on attachment. We also address prevalent myths about attachment, to help protect students from misinformation and simplistic accounts, and support them to challenge misuses of attachment theory. Our recommended curriculum update aims to help trainee social workers appreciate the value of attachment theory for their practice and use the theory in helpful and appropriate ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Social Work Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: Attachment theory and research: what should be on the core curriculum for child and family social workers?
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Foster%2C+Sarah+L%2E%22">Foster, Sarah L.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> sarah.l.foster@northumbria.ac.uk</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Schofield%2C+Gillian%22">Schofield, Gillian</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Geoghegan%2C+Luke%22">Geoghegan, Luke</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hood%2C+Rick%22">Hood, Rick</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sagi-Schwartz%2C+Abraham%22">Sagi-Schwartz, Abraham</searchLink><relatesTo>5,6</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bakkum%2C+Lianne%22">Bakkum, Lianne</searchLink><relatesTo>7</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hutchinson%2C+Dustin%22">Hutchinson, Dustin</searchLink><relatesTo>8,9</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Balk%2C+William%22">Balk, William</searchLink><relatesTo>10</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Devine%2C+Richard%22">Devine, Richard</searchLink><relatesTo>9,11</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Steele%2C+Miriam%22">Steele, Miriam</searchLink><relatesTo>12</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Steele%2C+Howard%22">Steele, Howard</searchLink><relatesTo>12</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Duncan%2C+Ross%22">Duncan, Ross</searchLink><relatesTo>13</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Guthrie%2C+Jenni%22">Guthrie, Jenni</searchLink><relatesTo>13,14</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mannes%2C+Julia%22">Mannes, Julia</searchLink><relatesTo>9</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Talia%2C+Alessandro%22">Talia, Alessandro</searchLink><relatesTo>15</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pickerden%2C+Jane+E%2E%22">Pickerden, Jane E.</searchLink><relatesTo>16</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Senior%2C+Lucy%22">Senior, Lucy</searchLink><relatesTo>17</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bailey%2C+Luke%22">Bailey, Luke</searchLink><relatesTo>16</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Stanton%2C+Cathrine%22">Stanton, Cathrine</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Allen%2C+Brian%22">Allen, Brian</searchLink><relatesTo>18</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Social+Work+Education%22">Social Work Education</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 45 Issue 3, p803-820. 18p.
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  Data: Attachment theory is one of the core theories proposed for child and family social work, but concerns have been raised regarding misunderstandings and misapplications. Misinformation about attachment is widespread, and texts and teaching on attachment theory often emphasize aspects of the theory that have limited value for applied practice while other elements with greater practice value are often overlooked. As an international group of social work and clinical educators, practitioners, and attachment researchers, we propose an updating of the core social work curriculum on attachment. We present eight core concepts from attachment theory and research. These concepts support thinking about children's relational needs and behavior, caregiving characteristics, and broader contextual factors. We argue that these concepts are particularly relevant for social work with children and families and should form the basis of teaching on attachment. We also address prevalent myths about attachment, to help protect students from misinformation and simplistic accounts, and support them to challenge misuses of attachment theory. Our recommended curriculum update aims to help trainee social workers appreciate the value of attachment theory for their practice and use the theory in helpful and appropriate ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Social Work Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1080/02615479.2025.2531859
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