Adolescent attachment, family functioning and depressive symptoms

Abstract

Background. Adolescence represents a challenging transitional period where changes in biological, emotional, cognitive and social domains can increase the risk of developing internalised problems including subthreshold depression. Adolescent-parent attachment style, perceived support and family functioning may increase risk for depressive symptoms or may reduce such risk. Adolescent-parent attachment, adolescentperceived support from parents and family functioning were examined as correlates of depressive symptom presentation within this age group. Methods. Participants included a maternal parent and an adolescent (65.5% female) from each family. Adolescents were in Grade 7 (n=175) or Grade 10 (n=31). Data were collected through home interviews. The Self-Report of Family Inventory (SFI), Experiences of Close Relationships Scale (ECR), Network of Relationships Inventory (NRI), Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) were used to assess depression, parental support and attachment. Results. Two models were examined: one with adolescent report of depressive symptoms as the outcome and a second with parent report of adolescent internalising symptoms as the outcome. The model predicting adolescent-reported depressive symptoms was significant with older age, higher levels of avoidant attachment, and higher levels of youth-reported dysfunctional family interaction associated with more depressive symptomatology. In the model predicting parent report of adolescent internalising symptoms only higher levels of dysfunctional family interaction, as reported by the parent, were associated with higher levels of internalising symptoms. Conclusion. Positive family communication, cohesion and support predictive of a secure parent-adolescent attachment relationship reduced the risk of a depressive symptom outcome. Secure adolescents were able to regulate their emotions, knowing that they could seek out secure base attachment relations within their family and from friends during times of stress, buffering against the development of depressive symptoms.

The Values of Psychological Science: Student and Faculty Perspectives on Research Ethics

“…Specifically, parent-adolescent attachment predicts the internalizing symptoms of depression. In particular, various studies have found significant associations between insecure parentadolescent attachment and depressive symptoms (Agerup et al, 2014;Constantine, 2006;DiFilippo & Overholser, 2000;Essau, 2004;Laible, Carlo, & Raffaelli, 2000;Rawatlal, Kliewer, & Pillay, 2015). Adolescents with insecure parent-adolescent attachment may feel incapable of being loved and may view their social environment negatively (Buirst, 2016;Sund & WichstrØm, 2002).…”

“…Conversely, those with secure attachments have lower scores on measures of depression (Rice, 1990). Adolescents with secure attachments may have stronger emotional regulation skills because they are able to seek out their parents in times of need, protecting against the development of depressive symptoms (Rawatlal et al, 2015).…”

Adolescent Depressive Symptoms: Longitudinal Effects Of Emotional Regulation Moderated By Parental Support

“…Several studies found associations between higher levels of depressive symptomatology and insecure attachments between adolescents and their parents, while secure attachment was associated with a lower risk of developing depressive symptomatology in adolescence (Allen, Porter, McFarland, McElhaney, & Marsh, 2007;Armsden, McCauley, Greenberg, Burke, & Mitchell, 1990;Duchesne & Ratelle, 2014;Rawatlal, Kliewer, & Pillay, 2015).…”

“…Attachment relationships are influenced by the quality of family functioning in terms of factors such as availability of support, cohesion, communication and levels of conflict (Rawatlal et al, 2015). In fact, the literature has shown that a positive relationship with parents, characterized by high support, cohesion, acceptance, affection, communication, and parental availability, has been associated with several positive development indicators, such as fewer problems of internalization, externalization and substance use, fewer risky sexual behaviours, better school performance, and better social skills (Branje, Hale, Frijns, & Meeus, 2010;Ewing, Diamond, & Levy, 2015;Kenny, Dooley, & Fitzgerald, 2013;Zhou, Sandler, Millsap, & Wolchik, 2008).…”

Regulação emocional e qualidade do relacionamento com os pais como preditoras de sintomatologia depressiva em adolescentes

“…No entanto, os pais permanecem como figuras de vinculação importantes, sendo que a satisfação de necessidades relacionais na família, combinada com uma autonomia não excessiva, encontra-se associada a melhor ajustamento psicossocial (Levpušček, 2006). Estas relações de vinculação são influenciadas pela qualidade do funcionamento familiar que inclui fatores como a disponibilidade de suporte, coesão, comunicação e níveis de conflito (Rawatlal, Kliewer & Pillay, 2015). No âmbito da revisão de literatura, o presente estudo teve como objetivo estudar os efeitos preditores das estratégias de regulação emocional e da qualidade do relacionamento com os pais no desenvolvimento de sintomatologia depressiva em adolescentes portugueses.…”