Adolescents’ relationship quality with professional caregivers in residential care: the impact of adverse childhood experiences and attachment

Adolescents in residential care often experience adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and attachment difficulties that may affect relationships with professional caregivers (“mentors”). This study examined predictors of adolescent–mentor relationship quality from both adolescent and mentor perspectives. Participants were 35 adolescents and 25 mentors from eight residential facilities. Adolescents completed the ACE-IQ and adolescent Friends and Family Interview (FFI); mentors completed the mentor Adult Attachment Interview (AAI); both completed adolescent- and mentor-reported Psychological Availability and Reliance on Adult (PARA). Linear mixed-effects models showed that adolescent FFI attachment representations were associated with adolescent- and mentor-reported PARA scores. Higher adolescent FFI secure-autonomous attachment and narrative coherence predicted higher adolescent-rated relationship quality, whereas higher adolescent FFI insecure-dismissing scores predicted lower affectional bond. Mentor AAI attachment showed limited associations. Findings highlight the relevance of adolescent attachment representations for relationship quality with professional caregivers.