My previous position as associate professor was mainly focused on course leadership for, and teaching on, two different courses in developmental psychology, for psychology program students. However, I have also taught on several other courses, for instance regarding executive functions and ADHD.

Together with Pehr Granqvist, I started a course in attachment (Advanced Attachment factory and Journal Club) for doctoral students and researchers at the department.

My research at the department has two different tracks. However, I have a particular interest in attachment theory, which partly unites the research.

Research on the use of attachment theory

My first research track is about how attachment theory, research and assessments are used in social work, especially in child protection and child custody investigations. In 2021, I coordinated an international consensus statement on these matters – "attachment goes to court" – in which we became a total of 70 researchers from more than 20 countries and all continents (Forslund et al., 2021a). The aim was, given widespread concerns about misuse of attachment theory, to provide updated knowledge concerning relevant theory and research, to counter misunderstandings, to give recommendations regarding the theory’s application, and to note important questions for future research.

I have subsequently elaborated on these issues in a special issue (Forslund et al., 2021b). Since the consensus statement mainly had a psychological focus, I expanded the reasoning by discussing the use of attachment theory in light of legal 'admissibility criteria for evidence in court'. The theme was custody investigations, but the conclusions are largely applicable to child protection investigations as well.

I then conducted an empirical study of how the theory is perceived and used by social workers who conduct child care investigations (Hammarlund et al., 2022). This study is one of very few systematic studies on the subject. The study indicated that attachment theory is widely used, and that there are widespread misunderstandings about the theory and how it can be applied. However, the study was descriptive and further research is needed. I am now working, together with PhD student Freja Isohanni (and Pehr Granqvist and Azadé Azad) on an interview study, to extend this research.

I am also working on various applications to extend this line of research. I also work with knowledge dissemination. This is important because one reason for misunderstandings about attachment, and difficulties in applying the theory, is that we researchers have communicated insufficiently with those who are using the theory. To this end, I have published a book, together with a colleague at Cambridge (Robbie Duschinsky). I have also written articles, in Swedish, in magazines aimed at practitioners, been interviewed on Radio and TV, and I often lecture to practitioners. I am also involved in various international collaborations, for further research and knowledge dissemination. Finally, I am developing a course in attachment theory, together with ITB, which will be offered to practitioners.

Research on parents with cognitive difficulties and their children

My second track concerns parenting behavior among parents with cognitive difficulties, their children's development and influential factors. This work has previously focused on parents with mild intellectual disability (ID), but now also includes parents with ADHD and parents with Autism (ASD). Together with Professor Pehr Granqvist, I have two grants (VR, FORTE) for a project that examines attachment representations in mothers with ID or ADHD, together with various potentially influential factors. Doctoral student Mårten Hammarlund is working on this project. The data has been collected and we are now working on analysis and reporting of results.

The project is based on a previous research project, about mothers with mild ID, which I carried out together with Pehr Granqvist (PI). This project has thus far resulted in four articles, concerning (1) the mothers' responsiveness, (2) the mothers' ability to identify emotional facial expressions, and (3) attachment representations and (4) behavior problems in their children. The mothers' own experiences of abuse, neglect and trauma emerged as a central risk factor, and such experiences were unfortunately very common.

Mårten Hammarlund, Pehr Granqvist and I have therefore also made a systematic review of how common it is with such experiences among these parents, as well as whether such experiences are associated with parenting and child development.

I also have research funding, together with a number of researchers from other universities, for a study evaluating a home-based parenting support program (Parenting young children; PYC) for parents with cognitive difficulties.

I have also published an interview study on how parents with ID experienced the Covid-19 pandemic, focusing on their parenting.

My research on parents with cognitive difficulties has been facilitated by help from SUF resource center (Region Uppsala). SUF has, since the first project, been very supportive, for instance through facilitating recruitment (through its wide network of practitioners who meet the target group). Since 2021, I also have a position as a researcher at SUF.

A selection from Stockholm University publication database

• Concepts travel faster than thought: an empirical study of the use of attachment classifications in child protection investigations

  2022. Mårten Hammarlund (et al.). Attachment & Human Development 24 (6), 712-731

  Article

  Scholarly discussion suggests prevalent, overconfident use of attachment classifications in child protection (CP) investigations but no systematic research has examined actual prevalence, the methods used to derive such classifications, or their interpretations. We aimed to cover this gap using survey data from a nationally representative sample of Swedish CP workers (N = 191). Three key findings emerged. First, the vast majority formed an opinion about young children's attachment quality in all or most investigations. Second, most did not employ systematic assessments, and none employed well-validated attachment methods. Third, there was overconfidence in the perceived implications of attachment classifications. For example, many believed that insecure attachment is a valid indicator of insufficient care. Our findings illustrate a wide researcher-practitioner gap. This gap is presumably due to inherent difficulties translating group-based research to the level of the individual, poor dissemination of attachment theory and research, and infrastructural pressures adversely influencing the quality of CP investigations.

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• Experiences of Interpersonal Trauma Among Parents With Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review

  2022. Mårten Hammarlund, Pehr Granqvist, Tommie Forslund. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse

  Article

  Research has suggested highly elevated levels of interpersonal trauma (IPT) among parents with intellectual disabilities (ID), and that such experiences may contribute to the caregiving and child developmental problems often seen in this population. Conflicting results have however been reported, and there is no systematic review on this matter. This study therefore systematically reviewed the empirical evidence concerning (a) prevalence of IPT among parents with ID, and links with (b) caregiving-relevant and (c) child developmental outcomes, in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and PTSDpubs. Peer-reviewed empirical articles reporting exposure to any form of systematically assessed IPT (unspecified IPT, physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, neglect, prolonged childhood separations from caregivers, witnessing abuse in the family) among parents with ID were included, yielding a final selection of 20 studies. Findings consistently indicated markedly elevated levels of IPT among parents with ID, with a majority (>50%) having experienced some form of IPT. Estimates for both unspecified and specific forms were typically higher than corresponding estimates in other groups at elevated risk, and than meta-analytical general population estimates in comparable countries. Findings regarding caregiving-relevant outcomes were mixed but indicated links with adverse outcomes, particularly regarding parental mental health. Reports pertaining to child developmental outcomes were scant and inconsistent. We highlight important limitations in the extant literature and provide directions for future research and clinical practice. 

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• Parents with intellectual disability reporting on factors affecting their caregiving in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study

  2022. Tommie Forslund, Stina Fernqvist, Helena Tegler. JARID

  Article

  Background: Parents with intellectual disability are vulnerable to parenting stress and overwhelming life events. The COVID-19 pandemic constitutes a potentially overwhelming event, but there is little knowledge concerning the effects on parents' caregiving. The present study aimed to fill this gap.

  Method: Semi-structured interviews with 10 Swedish parents with intellectual disability were analysed using thematic analysis.

  Results: One broad caregiving-related theme: increased caregiving demands and reduced resources for coping resulting in strained parent–child interactions and relationships. Four subthemes highlighted influential factors: pandemic information, professional support, social relationships and informal support, and children's school activities. Strained parent–child interactions were particularly common in the absence of adapted pandemic information, if professional and informal support were compromised, and if the parents had dealt with school-related changes.

  Conclusions: Findings support contextual models of caregiving and a stress-resources perspective, and emphasise the importance of adapted information and support to parents with intellectual disability during crises.

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• Attachment goes to court

  2022. Tommie Forslund (et al.). Attachment & Human Development 24 (1), 1-52

  Article

  Attachment theory and research are drawn upon in many applied settings, including family courts, but misunderstandings are widespread and sometimes result in misapplications. The aim of this consensus statement is, therefore, to enhance understanding, counter misinformation, and steer family-court utilisation of attachment theory in a supportive, evidence-based direction, especially with regard to child protection and child custody decision-making. The article is divided into two parts. In the first, we address problems related to the use of attachment theory and research in family courts, and discuss reasons for these problems. To this end, we examine family court applications of attachment theory in the current context of the best-interest-of-the-child standard, discuss misunderstandings regarding attachment theory, and identify factors that have hindered accurate implementation. In the second part, we provide recommendations for the application of attachment theory and research. To this end, we set out three attachment principles: the child’s need for familiar, non-abusive caregivers; the value of continuity of good-enough care; and the benefits of networks of attachment relationships. We also discuss the suitability of assessments of attachment quality and caregiving behaviour to inform family court decision-making. We conclude that assessments of caregiver behaviour should take center stage. Although there is dissensus among us regarding the use of assessments of attachment quality to inform child custody and child-protection decisions, such assessments are currently most suitable for targeting and directing supportive interventions. Finally, we provide directions to guide future interdisciplinary research collaboration.

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• How Does Temperament in Toddlers at Elevated Likelihood for Autism Relate to Symptoms of Autism and ADHD at Three Years of Age?

  2022. Linn Andersson Konke (et al.). Journal of autism and developmental disorders 52, 995-1006

  Article

  The current study investigated longitudinal associations between parent-rated temperament, observed exuberance and accelerometer activity level at 18-months and symptoms of ASD and ADHD at 36-months in a sample of 54 children at elevated likelihood for ASD. For the specific parent-rated temperament scales, most observed significant associations appeared to be specific for either ASD or ADHD symptoms. Indeed, by controlling for overlapping symptoms a different pattern of associations emerged. These results illustrate how temperamental measures may signal risk for later ASD versus ADHD symptomatology in infants at elevated likelihood for ASD. In addition, they indicate the potential of adopting a broader view on neurodevelopmental disorders by investigating not only ASD traits, but also co-occurring disorders such as ADHD in samples of elevated likelihood for ASD.

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• Attachment Theory and Research

  2021. .

  Book (ed)

  As interest in attachment theory continues to grow, misconceptions of the theory are becoming increasingly common. Important texts on major theoretical and empirical contributions are often too extensive for non-specialist readers or not readily available to clinicians. Designed to address a significant gap in literature, Attachment Theory and Research: A Readerpresents a carefully curated selection of book chapters and journal articles on the subject—complemented by previously unpublished material by the founder of the theory. This valuable new resource provides practitioners, students, policymakers, and general readers an accessible and up-to-date view of the concepts, development, and diversity of attachment theory.

  The Reader comprises 15 succinct chapters by many of the most influential researchers in the theory, covering the basis of attachment theory and the current state of the field. The book brings together a wide range of works, many of which challenge common assumptions and offer intriguing new insights on attachment theory and research. Topics include psychoanalytic theories of separation anxiety, concepts of anxiety, stress, and homeostasis, the origins of disorganized attachment, cultural differences in caregiving practices, reactive attachment disorder (RAD) and disinhibited social engagement disorder (DSED), the future prospects of attachment theory, and more.

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• Children’s Multiple Attachment Relationships and Representations in Different Family Contexts

  2021. Fabien Bacro, Tommie Forslund, Pehr Granqvist. Attachment Theory and Research, 228-239

  Chapter

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• El Apego Va a Juicio: Problemas de Custodia y Protección Infantil

  2021. Tommie Forslund (et al.). Anuario de psicología jurídica 32 (1), 115-139

  Article

  Attachment theory and research are drawn upon in many applied settings, including family courts, but misunderstandings are widespread and sometimes result in misapplications. The aim of this consensus statement is, therefore, to enhance understanding, counter misinformation, and steer family-court utilisation of attachment theory in a supportive, evidence-based direction, especially with regard to child protection and child custody decision-making. This article is divided into two parts. In the first part, we address problems related to the use of attachment theory and research in family courts, and discuss reasons for these problems. To this end, we examine family court applications of attachment theory in the current context of the best-interest-of-the-child standard, discuss misunderstandings regarding attachment theory, and identify factors that have hindered accurate implementation. In the second part, we provide recommendations for the application of attachment theory and research. To this end, we set out three attachment principles: the child's need for familiar, non-abusive caregivers; the value of continuity of good-enough care; and the benefits of networks of attachment relationships. We also discuss the suitability of assessments of attachment quality and caregiving behaviour to inform family court decision-making. We conclude that assessments of caregiver behaviour should take center stage. Although there is dissensus among us regarding the use of assessments of attachment quality to inform child custody and child-protection decisions, such assessments are currently most suitable for targeting and directing supportive interventions. Finally, we provide directions to guide future interdisciplinary research collaboration.

  Read more about El Apego Va a Juicio: Problemas de Custodia y Protección Infantil

• Introduction

  2021. Tommie Forslund, Robbie Duschinsky. Attachment Theory and Research, 1-10

  Chapter

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• Mothers With Mild Levels of Intellectual Disability

  2021. Mårten Hammarlund, Pehr Granqvist, Tommie Forslund. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 126 (4), 341-356

  Article

  Prior research indicates links between parents' experiences of interpersonal trauma and emotion-interpretation difficulties, and between such difficulties and child attachment insecurity and disorganization. Although mothers with mild levels of intellectual disability (ID) are at heightened risk for trauma and emotion-interpretation difficulties, and their children for attachment insecurity, corresponding links in this population have not been examined. We therefore investigated emotional interpretations among mothers with mild levels of ID (n = 23) and matched comparison mothers without ID (n = 25), in relation to mothers' experiences of trauma and their children's attachment representations. Mothers with mild levels of ID were not less accurate than comparison mothers with regard to general positive and negative emotion-interpretation accuracy, but they were significantly more likely to misinterpret shame and anger. Among mothers with mild levels of ID, misinterpretations of shame were positively related to maternal experiences of trauma, and to child attachment insecurity and disorganization.

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• Admissibility of attachment theory, research and assessments in child custody decision‐making? Yes and No!

  2021. Tommie Forslund, Mårten Hammarlund, Pehr Granqvist. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development 2021 (180), 125-140

  Article

  Attachment theory, research, and assessments have become increasingly applied to settle child custody cases. We discuss such applications in relation to admissibility criteria for scientific evidence and testimony proposed by Faigman et al. (2014). We argue that attachment theory and research can provide valid “framework evidence”; group-based attachment research has yielded general principles suitable as a frame of reference for pertinent court decisions. In particular, child custody decision-making should generally be guided by research indicating that children benefit from attachment networks. In contrast, assessments of attachment quality fall short of providing valid “diagnostic evidence”; information that a specific individual/dyad is a “true” instance of a general group-level principle. In particular, such assessments do not yield valid information about whether a particular caregiver has better caregiving skills than another caregiver and will better support child development. We conclude that attachment theory and research should be admissible for framework but not for diagnostic testimony.

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