Insecure family bases and adolescent drug abuse: A new approach to family patterns of attachment

Abstract

A new approach to assessing family attachment patterns is presented, using a composite measure of individual attachment representations based on the Bartholomew Attachment Interview. A cluster analysis yielded three different patterns in a sample of N = 37 families with a drug dependent adolescent (age 14 – 25) and both biological parents. A “triangulated” pattern (mothers: preoccupied; fathers: dismissing; adolescents: fearful) was found in 65% of the sample. A total of 19% showed an “insecure” pattern (mothers, fathers, and adolescents: fearful) and 16% a “near-secure” pattern (mothers and adolescents: secure; fathers preoccupied). Preliminary comparisons between these groups indicate differences in comorbid psychiatric disorders, in individual and family functioning, but not in addiction severity. There is a trend towards differences in outcome of family therapy. Implications for treatment and further research are discussed.

Keywords:

• Attachment
• family
• family relations
• triangulation
• adolescence
• substance abuse

Acknowledgements

The background of this study was the research project “Familientherapeutische Fruehintervention bei Opiatabhaengigkeit – eine vergleichende Querschnitts- und Verlaufsuntersuchung” [Family therapy with opioid dependent adolescents – a comparative cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis]. The entire project was supported by Grant 01-EB-9412 from the German Federal Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Technology (BMBF).

Notes

1 Inconsistent results of the AAI-studies might be due to the lack of a similar category. Lyons-Ruth, Yellin, Melnick, & Atwood (2003) recently reported a “hostile-helpless” state of mind, that might not be to far from Bartholomew's concept of “fearful-avoidance.”