Adolescent insecure attachment as a predictor of maladaptive coping and externalizing behaviors in emerging adulthood

Abstract

This study investigated whether insecure adolescent attachment organization (i.e., preoccupied and dismissing) longitudinally predicted self- and peer-reported externalizing behavior in emerging adulthood. Secondarily, maladaptive coping strategies were examined for their potential role in mediating the relationship between insecure attachment and future externalizing behaviors. Target participants (N = 184) were given the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) at age 14 and re-interviewed seven and eight years later with their closest peer. Qualities of both preoccupied and dismissing attachment organization predicted self-reported externalizing behaviors in emerging adulthood eight years later, but only preoccupation was predictive of close-peer reports of emerging adult externalizing behavior. Maladaptive coping strategies only mediated the relationship between a dismissing stance toward attachment and future self-reported externalizing behaviors. Understanding the role of coping and emotional regulation in attachment may help us to understand the unique aspects of both dismissing and preoccupied stances toward attachment.

Keywords:

• Adult Attachment Interview
• insecure attachment
• emerging adulthood
• externalizing behaviors
• coping strategies

Acknowledgements

This study was conducted using data collected as part of a larger investigation led by the principal investigator, Dr. Joseph P. Allen. Portions of this study were presented at the 2012 Transitions from Adolescence to Adulthood themed meeting of the Society for Research on Child Development in Tampa, Florida.

Notes

^1. Two different models are presented; one with preoccupied attachment as the predictor controlling for the variance accounted for by dismissing attachment, and one where the predictor is dismissing attachment while controlling for preoccupied attachment (see Figures 1 and 2). This was done to illustrate the differential effects per insecure attachment organization; however, a full model including both attachment organizations was run for both self- and peer-reports of externalizing variables and the significant findings did not deviate from those presented herein.