Adolescents' attachment and coping with stress

Abstract

This study examined how high school students cope with stress as a function of their attachment style. Data were gathered from 75 adolescent-parent pairs in Texas and included measures of attachment, coping style, life stress, and whom the respondent would turn to in times of stress. Adolescents' attachment security was positively related to family communication and negatively related to negative avoidance behaviors such as drinking or using drugs. Attachment insecurity was positively related to negative avoidance. Parent and child attachment ratings were related for secure and preoccupied but not fearful or dismissing styles. Research limitations and implications for school psychologists are discussed.

Adolescent-parent attachment: Bonds that support healthy development

“…Studies of nonclinical samples (52,53) show that securely attached adolescents are less likely to engage in excessive drinking, drug use and risky sexual behaviour. Among females, attachment security is related to lower rates of teenage pregnancy (52).…”

“…Attachment security in female adolescents is related to fewer weight-related concerns (57) and less frequent eating disorders (58). Attachment security in adolescence also predicts more constructive coping skills (53,59) and significant gains in social skills from 16 to 18 years of age (60). Securely attached adolescents manage the transition to high school more successfully, enjoy more positive relationships and experience less conflict with family and peers than do insecurely attached adolescents (61)(62)(63).…”

How Do I Connect? Attachment Issues in Adolescence

“…Insecurely attached adolescents appear to employ more avoidant coping mechanisms resulting in increased risk for problematic outcomes (Howard & Medway, 2004;Seiffge-Krenke & Beyers, 2005;Torquati & Vazsonyi, 1999). There appear to be strong links between insecure attachment and both anxiety and depression.…”

Attachment and Related Variables

“…Bağlanma bakış açısından var olan bağlanma biçimi farklı durumlarda kişinin baş etme mekanizmalarını ve risk alma düzeyini belirler. [49] Ergenlik dönemi yoğun değişimlerin olduğu bir dönemdir. Bu döne-mi ergenler farklı biçimlerde yaşarlar.…”