At The American University in Cairo, we study the bonds between children and parents — how they form, how they shape us, and how they carry across generations.
Launched in early 2024 by Dr Nour Zaki, the Attachment Lab explores the profound bonds between children and parents. We look at how early parent–child interactions shape adult attachment styles, how attachment patterns pass between generations, and how they shape the way we become parents ourselves.
How early interactions shape emotional development.
How attachment patterns are passed on.
The developmental pathway of parenting.
Attachment to God, meaning-making and loss.
Visit the lab with your child for about an hour. Free parking is reserved for you, and there's a small thank-you gift.
Participate in research
Research assistants gain hands-on experience across the whole research process, with close faculty mentorship.
Resources for students
Books, webinars and podcasts on attachment in parenting and relationships, chosen by the lab.
Browse resourcesBeyond our studies, the lab hosts weekly talks, team presentations and a library open to all. Families visiting for a study are welcomed in an orientation room, an observation room and a playroom.
Research around the world has found that attachment patterns influence our adult relationships, how we cope with conflict and even how we parent.
Yet very little of that research has taken place in Egypt or the Arab world — and because attachment is closely shaped by culture, understanding it within our own context is essential.
In December 2024 we published the first Strange Situation study in the Arab world — the gold standard of attachment research — with 60 mother–child pairs.
Founder & Director · Assistant Professor of Psychology at AUC
Dr Zaki earned her MA in Counseling Psychology at AUC and her PhD at UCAM University in Spain. Her work centres on the transition to parenthood, attachment relationships and maternal mental health.
Recently spoke at NYU Abu Dhabi’s Attachment Crossroads conference (2026) and the ATTACh Annual Conference in Nashville (2025).
Read Dr Zaki’s profileGraduate and undergraduate research assistants who recruit families, attend observations and help analyse our data.
Maya ShehataGraduate student
Merihan EissaMA holder
Mahi ElhelowBA holder
Lydia WassefGraduate student
Nour DabbourGraduating senior
Miriam HannaBA holder
Layla NassarGraduate student
Marina HanySenior
Yasmin HamoudGraduating senior
Mohamed BreshaGraduate student
Nada El SayedBA holder
Nour El SaeedJunior
Remaz BahaaMA holder
Laura KippPhD student, Université Paris CitéMothers always feel they’re not doing enough for their babies. So, having research that is aware of the pressure on the mothers and their feelings makes me so happy.
I discovered things about my child and myself as I was interested to see his reaction to different situations in the lab. It was a very nice experience.
The place is so kids friendly and most importantly everyone was too friendly & welcoming to both me & my baby.
It was a really good experience for me & my child. The study is so interesting for me & I’m glad that such studies are being held in Egypt.
I really enjoyed visiting the attachment lab and being part of the twins research. The team were extremely friendly and hospitable and made us feel welcome.
Shared anonymously by mothers who took part in our studies.
Talks, workshops and lectures by professionals in psychotherapy and attachment — open to everyone.
Each semester, research assistants present on a theme of attachment — such as “Roots of Security: Understanding Attachment in the Family Context.”
See upcoming datesRecorded on 30 September 2024. Recordings of our weekly events are collected in the video library.
Browse past events