Attachment and Relational Dynamics in Residential Care Contexts: Perceptions of Reference Adults and Implications for Resilience

Residential care settings provide not only protection but also therapeutic opportunities for children and adolescents exposed to relational adversity. This study examined attachment-related behaviors, relational dynamics, and perceptions of reference adults in residential care institutions in Portugal. Participants included 33 adolescents aged 12–18 years and 20 adults working in residential care institutions. Adolescents completed the Inventory of Attachment in Childhood and Adolescence, while professionals completed the Observation Checklist and provided qualitative descriptions of adolescents’ functioning and intervention strategies. The results revealed a predominance of non-secure attachment profiles, particularly ambivalent attachment, alongside considerable heterogeneity in observed attachment-related behaviors. Avoidant attachment emerged as a significant predictor of increased observational mental health risk, whereas observed secure attachment-related behaviors were negatively associated with psychological vulnerability. Qualitative findings highlighted the importance of emotionally responsive, consistent, and trusting relationships with reference adults, as well as the value of emotional validation, clear boundaries, and attachment-informed caregiving practices. The high heterogeneity of self-reported attachment representations and observational measures underscores the complexity of attachment functioning in trauma-exposed populations and supports the use of multi-method assessment approaches. Overall, the qualitative findings suggest that resilience in residential care is fundamentally relational and may be strengthened through stable, emotionally attuned relationships with caregivers. This study reinforces the importance of attachment-informed and trauma-informed practices in promoting psychological well-being, emotional regulation, and positive developmental trajectories among adolescents living in residential care.