A Comprehensive Scoping Review of Empirical Studies on Earned Secure Attachment.

This article provides a comprehensive scoping review of empirical research on Earned-Secure Attachment (ESA), defined as the process by which individuals with insecure childhood attachment histories develop secure attachment patterns in adulthood despite adverse early experiences. Reviewing 24 studies up to 2023, mostly using the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) for assessment, the review finds conceptual agreement on ESA's characterization but highlights methodological heterogeneity and reliance on retrospective data. Key findings indicate that individuals with ESA often report adverse childhood conditions such as parental psychopathology or low socioeconomic status but may not have experienced poor parental care, with secondary attachment figures and reflective functioning playing important roles in developing earned security. The review underscores gaps in understanding developmental pathways, especially the role of fathers, and calls for more prospective, diverse, and longitudinal research to clarify mechanisms underlying ESA and inform clinical practice.