Abstract

Although there is a wide range of tools to assess infant and adult attachment, a «measuring gap» has been identified in middle childhood and early adolescence. This article documents the Italian psychometric properties of the Child Attachment Interview (CAI), a semi-structured interview developed from Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) and Strange Situation Procedure (SSP). The main psychometric properties are presented: interrater reliability, test-retest reliability, concurrent and discriminant validities. Findings suggest that the CAI Italian version is a reliable and valid measure for assessing attachment in this developmental period and discriminates the attachment of normally developing children and those with psychopathology.