Experiences of parental rearing and patterns of attachment in adulthood

Abstract

Three hundred and sixty-one non-clinical subjects were investigated for associations between experiences of parental rearing, and various measures of attachment in adulthood. Experiences of parental rearing were assessed by the EMBU (a Swedish acronym for 'Own memories of parental rearing'). The AAS (Adult Attachment Scale), the ASQ (Attachment Styles Questionnaire), and the RAQ (Reciprocal Attachment Questionnaire) were used to assess patterns of attachment in adulthood. The rationale for choosing different attachment instruments was to have measures which take into account different kinds of relationships. Three main predictions were: (1) there will be a significant positive relationship between the experience of emotional warmth and indicators of secure attachment; (2) there will be a significant negative relationship between experiences of dysfunctional parenting and measures of insecure attachment, and (3) findings will be consistent across all three attachment measures, independently of the kind of relationship taken into account. All three predictions were supported. The results are congruent with what would be expected within the framework of attachment theory.

Spouse Similarity in Recollections of Parenting Received: A Study in a Nonclinical Sample

“…This fincling of a modest but highly significant inter-spousc correlation is in line with results from prcvious studies on spouse sirnilarity in psychological characteristics. Given the high association between recollection of parenting and attachment style (Carnelley et al, 1994;Gittleman et al, 1998;Hazan & Shaver, 1987;Manassis et al, 1999;Perris & Andersson, 2000), our observation of an as-sociation between recollection of parenting and partner selcction is consistent with Frazier et al's (1996) finding of intimate partner similarity in attachment patterns in unmarried psychology students. Our results also suggest that people's recollection of care by their parents plays a more relevant role in mate selection processes than recollections of denial of autonomy or encouragement of freedom, which could be characteristics more specific to parent-child relationships and affect attachment style in a Jess relevant way for mate selection than the care dimension does.…”

“…Given the high association between recollection of parenting and attachment style (Carnelley et al, 1994;Gittleman et al, 1998;Hazan & Shaver, 1987;Manassis et al, 1999;Perris & Andersson, 2000), our observation of an as- <.0001 2).…”

“…Several studies have shown children’s attachment patterns to be highly associated with their father’s and mother’s parenting attitudes (Benoit & Parker, 1994; Fox, Kimmerly, & Schafer, 1991; Isabella, 1993; Steele, Steele, & Fonagy, 1996; Stevenson-Hinde & Shouldice, 1995). Moreover, studies on adults have revealed a similar association between attachment style and recollections of parental behavior experienced during childhood (Carnelley, Pietromonaco, & Jaffe, 1994; Gittleman, Klein, Smider, & Essex, 1998; Hazan & Shaver, 1987; Manassis, Owens, Adam, West, & Sheldon-Keller, 1999; Perris & Andersson, 2000). This finding is compatible with Bowlby’s assumption that attachment patterns persist relatively unchanged throughout the rest of an individual’s life and, when positive, provide the necessary confidence to explore one’s environment and socialize with others.…”

Spouse Similarity in Recollections of Parenting Received: A Study in a Nonclinical Sample

“…This fincling of a modest but highly significant inter-spousc correlation is in line with results from prcvious studies on spouse sirnilarity in psychological characteristics. Given the high association between recollection of parenting and attachment style (Carnelley et al, 1994;Gittleman et al, 1998;Hazan & Shaver, 1987;Manassis et al, 1999;Perris & Andersson, 2000), our observation of an as-sociation between recollection of parenting and partner selcction is consistent with Frazier et al's (1996) finding of intimate partner similarity in attachment patterns in unmarried psychology students. Our results also suggest that people's recollection of care by their parents plays a more relevant role in mate selection processes than recollections of denial of autonomy or encouragement of freedom, which could be characteristics more specific to parent-child relationships and affect attachment style in a Jess relevant way for mate selection than the care dimension does.…”

“…Given the high association between recollection of parenting and attachment style (Carnelley et al, 1994;Gittleman et al, 1998;Hazan & Shaver, 1987;Manassis et al, 1999;Perris & Andersson, 2000), our observation of an as- <.0001 2).…”

“…Several studies have shown children’s attachment patterns to be highly associated with their father’s and mother’s parenting attitudes (Benoit & Parker, 1994; Fox, Kimmerly, & Schafer, 1991; Isabella, 1993; Steele, Steele, & Fonagy, 1996; Stevenson-Hinde & Shouldice, 1995). Moreover, studies on adults have revealed a similar association between attachment style and recollections of parental behavior experienced during childhood (Carnelley, Pietromonaco, & Jaffe, 1994; Gittleman, Klein, Smider, & Essex, 1998; Hazan & Shaver, 1987; Manassis, Owens, Adam, West, & Sheldon-Keller, 1999; Perris & Andersson, 2000). This finding is compatible with Bowlby’s assumption that attachment patterns persist relatively unchanged throughout the rest of an individual’s life and, when positive, provide the necessary confidence to explore one’s environment and socialize with others.…”

Perception of parental rearing when growing up in a single-parent home

“…Richter and Eisemann, 1996;Schlette et al, 1998a, b;Lundberg et al, 1999a), and perception of parental rearing and attachment styles (e.g. Perris and Andersson, 2000). Most studies dealing with perceptions of parental rearing, including those mentioned above, however, involve subjects who were raised by both parents.…”

The Impact of Parental Self-esteem, Parental Rearing Behavior on the Adolescent Attachment to Parents

“…Concerning mothers' rearing behaviors, we found that maternal punitiveness can predict adolescent anxiety to mother, while maternal overinvolvement and over-protection can predict adolescent avoidance to father. These results were similar to other western and Chinese researches (Perris & Andersson, 2000;Schumacher et al,2004;Li, 2006). The results of the present study indicated that parental positive rearing behaviors were negatively associated with avoidance to both parents.…”

Spouse Similarity in Recollections of Parenting Received: A Study in a Nonclinical Sample

“…This fincling of a modest but highly significant inter-spousc correlation is in line with results from prcvious studies on spouse sirnilarity in psychological characteristics. Given the high association between recollection of parenting and attachment style (Carnelley et al, 1994;Gittleman et al, 1998;Hazan & Shaver, 1987;Manassis et al, 1999;Perris & Andersson, 2000), our observation of an as-sociation between recollection of parenting and partner selcction is consistent with Frazier et al's (1996) finding of intimate partner similarity in attachment patterns in unmarried psychology students. Our results also suggest that people's recollection of care by their parents plays a more relevant role in mate selection processes than recollections of denial of autonomy or encouragement of freedom, which could be characteristics more specific to parent-child relationships and affect attachment style in a Jess relevant way for mate selection than the care dimension does.…”

“…Given the high association between recollection of parenting and attachment style (Carnelley et al, 1994;Gittleman et al, 1998;Hazan & Shaver, 1987;Manassis et al, 1999;Perris & Andersson, 2000), our observation of an as- <.0001 2).…”

“…Several studies have shown children’s attachment patterns to be highly associated with their father’s and mother’s parenting attitudes (Benoit & Parker, 1994; Fox, Kimmerly, & Schafer, 1991; Isabella, 1993; Steele, Steele, & Fonagy, 1996; Stevenson-Hinde & Shouldice, 1995). Moreover, studies on adults have revealed a similar association between attachment style and recollections of parental behavior experienced during childhood (Carnelley, Pietromonaco, & Jaffe, 1994; Gittleman, Klein, Smider, & Essex, 1998; Hazan & Shaver, 1987; Manassis, Owens, Adam, West, & Sheldon-Keller, 1999; Perris & Andersson, 2000). This finding is compatible with Bowlby’s assumption that attachment patterns persist relatively unchanged throughout the rest of an individual’s life and, when positive, provide the necessary confidence to explore one’s environment and socialize with others.…”

Perception of parental rearing when growing up in a single-parent home

“…Richter and Eisemann, 1996;Schlette et al, 1998a, b;Lundberg et al, 1999a), and perception of parental rearing and attachment styles (e.g. Perris and Andersson, 2000). Most studies dealing with perceptions of parental rearing, including those mentioned above, however, involve subjects who were raised by both parents.…”

The Impact of Parental Self-esteem, Parental Rearing Behavior on the Adolescent Attachment to Parents

“…Concerning mothers' rearing behaviors, we found that maternal punitiveness can predict adolescent anxiety to mother, while maternal overinvolvement and over-protection can predict adolescent avoidance to father. These results were similar to other western and Chinese researches (Perris & Andersson, 2000;Schumacher et al,2004;Li, 2006). The results of the present study indicated that parental positive rearing behaviors were negatively associated with avoidance to both parents.…”

Spouse Similarity in Recollections of Parenting Received: A Study in a Nonclinical Sample

“…This fincling of a modest but highly significant inter-spousc correlation is in line with results from prcvious studies on spouse sirnilarity in psychological characteristics. Given the high association between recollection of parenting and attachment style (Carnelley et al, 1994;Gittleman et al, 1998;Hazan & Shaver, 1987;Manassis et al, 1999;Perris & Andersson, 2000), our observation of an as-sociation between recollection of parenting and partner selcction is consistent with Frazier et al's (1996) finding of intimate partner similarity in attachment patterns in unmarried psychology students. Our results also suggest that people's recollection of care by their parents plays a more relevant role in mate selection processes than recollections of denial of autonomy or encouragement of freedom, which could be characteristics more specific to parent-child relationships and affect attachment style in a Jess relevant way for mate selection than the care dimension does.…”

“…Given the high association between recollection of parenting and attachment style (Carnelley et al, 1994;Gittleman et al, 1998;Hazan & Shaver, 1987;Manassis et al, 1999;Perris & Andersson, 2000), our observation of an as- <.0001 2).…”

“…Several studies have shown children’s attachment patterns to be highly associated with their father’s and mother’s parenting attitudes (Benoit & Parker, 1994; Fox, Kimmerly, & Schafer, 1991; Isabella, 1993; Steele, Steele, & Fonagy, 1996; Stevenson-Hinde & Shouldice, 1995). Moreover, studies on adults have revealed a similar association between attachment style and recollections of parental behavior experienced during childhood (Carnelley, Pietromonaco, & Jaffe, 1994; Gittleman, Klein, Smider, & Essex, 1998; Hazan & Shaver, 1987; Manassis, Owens, Adam, West, & Sheldon-Keller, 1999; Perris & Andersson, 2000). This finding is compatible with Bowlby’s assumption that attachment patterns persist relatively unchanged throughout the rest of an individual’s life and, when positive, provide the necessary confidence to explore one’s environment and socialize with others.…”

Perception of parental rearing when growing up in a single-parent home

“…Richter and Eisemann, 1996;Schlette et al, 1998a, b;Lundberg et al, 1999a), and perception of parental rearing and attachment styles (e.g. Perris and Andersson, 2000). Most studies dealing with perceptions of parental rearing, including those mentioned above, however, involve subjects who were raised by both parents.…”

The Impact of Parental Self-esteem, Parental Rearing Behavior on the Adolescent Attachment to Parents

“…Concerning mothers' rearing behaviors, we found that maternal punitiveness can predict adolescent anxiety to mother, while maternal overinvolvement and over-protection can predict adolescent avoidance to father. These results were similar to other western and Chinese researches (Perris & Andersson, 2000;Schumacher et al,2004;Li, 2006). The results of the present study indicated that parental positive rearing behaviors were negatively associated with avoidance to both parents.…”