Predictors of Changing Attachment Security From 14 to 24: Autonomy Struggles, Supportive Behaviors & Parental Marital Quality Joseph P. Allen Joseph S. Tan Leah A. Grande University of Virginia Collaborators: Farah Williams, Ph.D. Christy McFarland, Ph.D. Maryfrances Porter, Ph.D. Chris Hafen, Ph.D. Emily Marston, Ph.D. Kathleen McElhaney, Ph.D. Megan Schad Erin Miga, Ph.D. Emily Loeb Lauren Cannavo Amanda Hare, Ph.D. Jessica Kansky Rachel Narr Elie Hessel Lauren Elreda, Ph.D. We gratefully acknowledge grant support from NIMH & NICHD ( 2R01HD058305 & R01-MH58066). Copies of related papers are available at: WWW.TEENRESEARCH.ORG
Predicting Adult Attachment: Why We Care Powerful Links to: • Security of Infant Offspring (Caregiving) • Psychological Health • Marital Relationship Quality • Career Satisfaction
What Predicts Change In Attachment Security from Adolescence to Adulthood? n Developmental Perspective • Relative Decrease in Role of Parental Support • Developing Adolescent Autonomy & Peer Focus n Contextual Factors • Income & Gender
Preliminary Question Does Attachment Security Actually Change Significantly from Adolescence into Adulthood?
Three Types of Links to Security What WAS Important: 1. Processes G oing Offline Links to security in adolescence but not to future change in security. What’s BECOMING Important: 2. Processes Coming Online No links to security in adolescence,but predict change in security from adolescence to adulthood. What’s STAYING Important: 3. Ongoing Transactional Processes Ongoing links to past and future security.
Sample n Adult Attachment Interviews with 175 adolescents interviewed at age 14; Follow-up AAI with 149 at age 24 n Intensive Interviews and Observations with Teens, Parents, and Close Friends of Teens n Equal numbers of Males and Females n Socio-economically Diverse (Median Family Income= $40- $60K) n 31% African American; 69% European American
Attachment Security Ages 14 and 24 Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) (George, Kaplan, & Main, 1996) n 1-hour semi-structured interview n Attachment security: • Reflects coherence in discourse about episodic and semantic memories of attachment experiences. • Autonomy /balance in evaluating attachment relationships • While clearly valuing attachment relationships n Reliably coded using Kobak et al., (1993) Q-sort technique • Interrater reliability = .74 - .84 (Thanks to Kristyn Zajac & Stephanie Madsen!)
Stability of Attachment Security from 14 to 24 Age 24 Age 14 .44*** Attachment Attachment Security Security BUT…Stability varies significantly across Gender For Females: .56*** Attachment Attachment Security Security For Males: .28* Attachment Attachment Security Security
Demographic Predictors of Attachment Security Age 24 Age 14 .44*** Attachment Attachment Security Security .29*** .01 Family Income Family Income is Going Offline Developmentally as a Factor Predicting Change in Security
Demographic Predictors of Attachment Security Age 24 Age 14 .44*** .42*** Attachment Attachment Security Security .12 .19** Female Gender Gender is Coming Online Developmentally as a Factor Predicting Change in Security
Parental Predictors of Attachment Security (Supportive Behavior) Supportive Behavior Task & Coding System (Allen et al., 2001) • 8-minute interaction task between parent and teen • Teen discusses a problem or question about which they could use help from parent • Coded for degree of maternal engagement with the teen in the task • Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (reliability) =.81 • Collected at Age 13
Parental Predictors of Attachment Security (Supportive Behavior) Adulthood Adolescence .44*** Attachment Attachment Security (14) Security (24) .23** .14 Maternal Supportive Behavior (13) Maternal Supportive Behavior is Going Offline Developmentally as a Factor Predicting Change in Security
Peer Supportive Behavior as a Predictor of Attachment Security Supportive Behavior Task & Coding System (Allen et al., 2001) • 8-minute interaction task between teen and closest friend • Teen discusses a problem or question about which they could use help from friend • Coded for degree of friend’s engagement with the teen in the task • Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (reliability) =.79 - .82 • Collected at Age 14 and 15
Peer Supportive Behavior as a Predictor of Attachment Security Adulthood Adolescence .34*** Attachment Attachment Security (14) Security (24) .19* .25*** Peer Supportive Behavior (15) Peer Supportive Behavior is Both Predicted by Prior Security and Predicts Change in Security – A Transactionally-Linked Factor
Peer Supportive Behavior as a Predictor of Attachment Security Adulthood Adolescence .34*** Attachment Attachment Security (14) Security (24) .27*** .18* .25*** Peer Supportive Peer Supportive Behavior (14) Behavior (15) .10 A Transactional Process : Attachment Security Also Predicts Relative Change in Peer Supportive Behavior over Time
Parental Predictors of Attachment Security (Marital Conflict) Aggressive Argument Tactics from Conflict Tactics Scale (Straus, 1979; 1988) • 5-items (e.g., insults, threats, etc.) • Mothers and Fathers both report about themselves and about one another • Scores are summed together • Cronbach’s α =.85 • Collected at adolescent age 13
Parental Predictors of Attachment Security (Marital Conflict) Aggressive Argument Tactics from Conflict Tactics Scale (Straus, 1979; 1988) • Reduces teens’ confidence that they can form positive relationships outside the family. • Reduces their ability to do so.
Parental Predictors of Attachment Security (Marital Conflict) Adulthood Adolescence Attachment Attachment .44*** .40*** Security (14) Security (24) -.14 -.24** Marital Conflict (13) Parental Marital Conflict is Coming Online Developmentally as a Factor Predicting Decreases in Security
Parental Predictors of Attachment Security (Alcohol Abuse) CA GE (Bush et al., 1987) • 5-item, widely used screening test for risk of alcohol abuse (e.g., “Ever been annoyed with others for criticizing your drinking”) • Administered to both mothers and fathers; averaged for two-parent families. • Collected at Adolescent ages 13 and 16
Parental Predictors of Attachment Security (Alcohol Abuse) Adulthood Adolescence .42*** .44*** Attachment Attachment Security (14) Security (24) ..01 -.14* Parental Alcohol Abuse (13, 16) Parental Alcohol Abuse is Coming Online Developmentally as a Factor Predicting Decreases in Security
Parental Predictors of Attachment Security (Parental Psychological Control) Child Report of Parenting Behavior (Schludermann & Schludermann, 1988) • 10-item adolescent-report scale about parents • Autonomy-undermining Behaviors (e.g., guilt induction, threats, etc.) • Reports obtained regarding both mothers and fathers • Collected at both ages 15 and 16 and averaged • Cronbach’s α ’s across ages and targets =.78 - .85
Parental Predictors of Attachment Security (Parental Psychological Control) Adulthood Adolescence .44*** .33*** Attachment Attachment Security (14) Security (24) -.30*** -.26*** Parental Psychological Control (15-16) Parental Psychological Control is Both Predicted by Prior Security and Predicts Change in Security – A Transactionally-Linked Factor
Adolescent Family and Peer Experiences Predicting Attachment Security Over Time Factors Predicting Baseline Factors Not linked to Baseline Security But Not Future Change: Security But Predictive of Future Change: Maternal Hx of Parental Parental Marital Female Supportive Alc. Abuse Discord Gender Behavior (Age 13, 16) (Age 13) Total R 2 (explained variance in) (Age 13) Adult Attachment Security . 23** -. 17* .16* -.15* .391*** Total Multiple R = .62*** . 31*** Attachment Security Attachment Security (Age 14) (Age 24) R 2 change (from social predictors) = .151*** .20** -.30*** -.21** . 44** Multiple R for social predictors = Parent .39*** Factors Linked to BOTH Peer Supportive Psychological Baseline Security AND Behavior Control Future Change: (Age 15) (Age 15-16)
Limitations n Longitudinal Predictions ≠ Causal Pathways n No data on unresolved/CC status n Modest power to detect small effects Copies of related papers are available at: www.TeenResearch.org
Conclusions n The attachment system remains flexible and open to environmental influences … • … not just through childhood but into adulthood. Copies of related papers are available at: www.TeenResearch.org
Conclusions n Parents do still matter n But less as support providers and more as a solid launching pad. Copies of related papers are available at: www.TeenResearch.org
Conclusions n Parents do matter n But less as support providers and more as a solid launching pad. n A crucial role, but NOT one that’s easy for parents! Copies of related papers are available at: www.TeenResearch.org
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