The impact of attachment security and emotion dysregulation on anxiety in children and adolescents

Abstract

Theoretical views and empirical findings suggest interrelations among attachment security, emotion dysregulation and anxiety in childhood and adolescence. However, the associations among the three constructs have rarely been investigated in children, and no study has yet addressed these associations in adolescence. The aim of the present study was to test a model of the interrelations among the three factors on a sample of 673 youths (age 9–16), using structural equation modelling. In accordance with theoretical conceptualisations, it was hypothesised that attachment security would relate to anxiety and that emotion dysregulation would help explain the association between attachment security and anxiety. Results showed that more securely attached youths reported less emotion dysregulation and that youths who had fewer emotion regulation difficulties experienced less anxiety. The association between attachment security and anxiety was mediated by emotion dysregulation. The model was confirmed for both children and adolescents. Findings are discussed with respect to theoretical implications, as well as future directions.

Keywords:

• anxiety
• attachment
• emotion dysregulation
• children
• adolescents

Acknowledgements

We want to thank all participating children and adolescents, their parents and schools for their contribution to this project. We also want to thank the staff and students at the CCAP lab, who were involved in this project, especially Vibe N. Bredsdorf, Louise B. Christensen, Lena Fredensborg, Helle H. Hald, Louise S. Trip, Maja Tyle and Rie von Wowern. Finally, we want to thank Dr. Tina Kretschmer for the statistical consultations.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by grants from the Augustinus Foundation to the Copenhagen Child Anxiety Project (CCAP), at the Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen.