The Italian version of the Circle of Security Parenting: clinical application and preliminary empirical data from a research study

Introduction The Circle of Security Parenting (COS-P) protocol is an early intervention program designed to prevent insecure attachment, child psychopathological distress and to promote psychological well-being that can be used with groups, dyads, and individuals. It is a visually based approach (utilizing extensive use of both graphics and video clips). Created in USA (Cooper, Hoffman, Powell, Marvin, 2005), COS-P is now widespread in many countries and has been translated into seven languages. The final purpose of COS-P is to support parents to recognize and respond to their children’s alternating needs for attachment and exploration (Powell, Cooper, Hoffman, Marvin, 2009). It provides an opportunity for caregivers to reflect on their child’s needs and the challenges each faces in meeting those needs (Cooper, Hoffman, & Powell, 2009). Whereas COS is an evidenced based approach, there are only preliminary empirical data on the efficacy of COS-P. Using case studies, the presentation describes the Italian version of COS-P, produced with the collaboration of its creators, and its preliminary empirical data from a research study. Particularly attention will be paid to the setting up of a research study designed to evaluate the efficacy of the COS-P in Italy. Method Case studies will be presented and preliminary data will be discussed on a pre-intervention/post-intervention design used to examine the COS-P efficacy. Self-report questionnaires and a projective tool were administered to patients participating to the protocol. The areas of investigation of used tools can be grouped in: dyadic adjustment; parenting; caregiving; parents’ subjective appraisal of child problems; parent’s attachment style and model. Results/discussion Preliminary data of the application of COS-P on case studies showed interesting results in terms of enhancement of the attachment-caregiving relationships and of parents’ subjective appraisal of child needs. COS constituted a type of treatment to support parenting with great potential in the Italian context.