Developmental Patterns in Security of Attachment to Mother and Father in Late Childhood and Early Adolescence: Associations with Peer Relations

Abstract

This study examined developmental differences in two dimensions of attachment security (parental availability and child dependency on parents) in late childhood (N = 274) and early adolescence (N = 267) and their association with peer relations. Children's perceptions of mother's availability and boys' perceptions of father's availability did not differ as a function of age. Dependency on parents, however, decreased with age. Findings highlight the importance of distinguishing between parental availability and reliance on parental help when measuring attachment developmentally. Children's reports of positive friendship qualities and lack of conflict in their best friendships were related to attachment to both mother and father, whereas the presence of a reciprocated friendship and popularity were not. Father availability was a particularly important predictor of lower conflict with best friends. Findings indicate that the quality of parent-child attachment generalizes primarily to the quality of children's close peer relations.

Friendship in High-functioning Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Mixed and Non-mixed Dyads

“…They had high scores on attachment security. It is well documented in the literature that security of attachment is related with higher friendship qualities (e.g., Berlin and Cassidy 1999;Bowlby 1973;Grossmann et al 1999;Lieberman et al 1999;Park and Waters 1989;Sroufe and Fleeson 1986;Youngblade and Belsky 1992). Friendship's reciprocal nature requires consideration and awareness of other child's mental states (ToM capabilities like; reading others' emotions, thoughts, desires and intentions).…”

“…Research indicates a link between the quality of the parent-child attachment (secure/ insecure) and the child's friendships with peers; namely, securely attached children are able to form more harmonious, intimate, and responsive friendships compared to insecure children (e.g., Berlin and Cassidy 1999;Bowlby 1973;Grossmann et al 1999;Lieberman et al 1999;Park and Waters 1989;Sroufe and Fleeson 1986;Youngblade and Belsky 1992). What is learned in the context of the parent-child attachment relationship is thought to be generalized to certain types of other relationships, such as peer friendships (Bowlby 1973;Sroufe and Fleeson 1986).…”

Attachment and Autonomy During Adolescence

“…At the same time that adolescents demonstrate a relative decrease in their desire to physically spend time with parents, there also tends to be an increase in emotional negativity and disengagement in the parent -teen relationship (Baer, 2002 ;Collins, 1990 ;Csikszentmihalyi & Larson, 1984 ;Gutman & Eccles, 2007 ;Kim, Conger, Lorenz, & Elder, 2001 ;Larson & Richards, 1991 ;Larson, Richards, & Moneta, 1996 ;Larson et.al, 1998 ;Pinquart & Silbereisen, 2002 ). Similarly, teens evidence a decreased need for emotional support from parents and are less likely to express a dependence on parents to help them solve their problems (Levpu š cek, 2006 ;Lieberman, Doyle, & Markiewicz, 1999 ;Steinberg & Silverberg, 1986 ). This push away from parents corresponds to an increased tendency for adolescents to rely on friends and/or romantic partners for emotional support instead of (or at least in addition to) their parents.…”

“…A rapidly increasing body of research confirms links between a secure adolescent attachment organization and a range of indexes of adaptive functioning with peers. Adolescent attachment security has been linked to measures of broader social competence such as overall friendship quality, popularity, and social acceptance (Allen, Moore, Kuperminc, & Bell, 1998 ;Allen et al, in press;Zimmermann, 2004 ), as well as to functioning within close friendships with peers (Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991 ;Hazan & Shaver, 1987 ;Lieberman et al, 1999 ;. Both self -report, interviewbased, and observational studies suggest that secure teens engage in high levels of prosocial and relationship maintaining behaviors with their friends, as well as low levels of negativity (e.g., Markiewicz, Doyle, & Brendgen, 2001 ;Wiemer, Kerns, & Oldenberg, 2004 ;Zimmermann, Maier, Winter, & Grossmann, 2001 ;Zimmermann, 2004 both by a " smooth conversational style " (e.g., low need for clarification of viewpoints) and by fewer statements challenging the other person (Weimer et al).…”

Treating paternal drug abuse using Learning Sobriety Together: Effects on adolescents versus children

“…In addition, as children transition to adolescence, dependency on parents decreases (Lieberman et al, 1999) and negative behavior may be maintained by peer group influences, often regardless of parental pressures (see Henggeler et al, 1986). Although we have focused on how family processes contribute to externalizing behavior (e.g., aggression, non-compliance), left untreated, children's anxiety may worsen and precede depression or substance use disorder (see Kendall et al, 2004).…”