Relationship of College Students' Current Attachment to Appraisals of Parental Conflict

Abstract

This study assessed the relationship of parental attachment and gender to appraisals of conflict with parents in an qfort to clariJy the psychological mechanisms that mediate the relationship between attachment and psychological well-being. Appraisals of conflict with parents were found to be related to level of attachment and genderMany college counselors believe that the psychological difficulties students bring to counseling have developmental roots in dysfunctional interactions with parents and other primary caregivers. Interpersonal and object-relations theorists have long maintained that adolescent and adult functioning is formed within early child-caregiver relationships (Fairbairn, 1 952; Klein, 1 964; Mahler, 1 963; Winnicott, 1 965), and there is considerable agreement that important developmental tasks of adolescence and early adulthood find their resolution in the context of Family relationships (Lapsley, Rice, & FitzGerald, 1990). It probably comes as no surprise to college counselors that students with a less secure family base may experience more adjustment diFficulties in college. College counseling centers are reporting surprising numbers of students who seek counseling services regarding abuse and other stressful family-of-origin issues (Braver, Bumberry, Green, & Rawson, 1992; Gilbert, 1992).What is perhaps less clear is how college counselors can effectively assist students whose presenting complaints either directly or indirectly involve family-of-origin issues, particularly in the current climate of session limits, brief therapy, and shrinking resources that exists on many college campuses ( long been credited for their effectiveness in treating emotional disorders in a relatively short time (for a review see tipsey & Wilson, 1993), but these approaches have sometimes been criticized for neglecting the important role of historical factors, which can cause and prolong clients' presenting problems. However, the developmental origins of psychological difficulties have become a salient aspect of cognitive approaches to counseling (Butterfield, Albertson, &Johnston, 1995; Lyddon & Alford, 1993;Mahoney, 1991 ), and Bradford and Lyddon ( 1 993) have recently suggested that an important conceptual link common to these developmentally based forms of cognitive therapy is attachment theory (Ainsworth, 1989; Bowlby, 1988). Atruchrnent refers to the emotional bond experienced with another, who is sensed as a source of security and who provides a secure base anchoring exploration of one's surroundings, which in turn contributes to autonomy and competence (Bowlby, 1988). Attachment theory also has been labeled a theory of affect regulation (Feeney & Noller, 1 996). Accordingly, individual differences in attachment reflect rules and strategies that children learn about handling emotions that can persist across the life span. Feeney and Noller pointed out that although these rules are acquired through experiences of caregivers' responses to attachment-related distress, they are generalized to other distre...

Exploring the Interaction Between Social Strain and Support and its Association with College Students’ Psychological Well-Being

“…On the other hand, maternal relationships can be associated with negative outcomes when strain is experienced within these relationships. In fact, studies have shown that the majority of emerging adults’ daily negative interpersonal interactions occur with their mothers (Laursen, 1995) and commonly spark negative emotions like frustration (McCarthy et al, 1998). Other research has found that conflict with mothers is associated with poorer adjustment to college (Icart, 2019).…”

Relationship of Attachment and Social Support to College Students' Adjustment Following a Relationship Breakup

“…Although an earlier version of the IPPA assessed attachment to parents as a single construct (Armsden & Greenberg, 1987), the authors later revised the scale to assess attachment to mother and father separately (Armsden & Greenberg, 1989). This revised version of the instrument has been used in several studies of late adolescent attachment (Brack, Gay, & Matheny, 1993;McCarthy, Brack, Brack, Liu, & Carlson, 1998). Armsden and Greenberg (1987) reported internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) scores that ranged from .86 to .91 and test-retest reliability scores over a 3-week period of .93 for their overall parental attachment scale; internal consistency estimates for scores from the separate mother and father scales has been reported at .89 and .88 respectively (Papini, Roggman, & Anderson, 1991).…”

Paper-and-Pencil Or Online?

“…Examples of items include the following: "I get upset a lot more than my mother/father knows about," "When we discuss things, my mother/father cares about my point of view," and "My mother/father trusts my judgment." This revised version of the instrument has been used in several studies of late adolescent attachment (Brack et al, 1993;McCarthy, Brack, Brack, Liu, & Carlson, 1998). Armsden and Greenberg (1987) reported internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) scores that ranged from .86 to .91 and test-retest reliability scores over a 3-week period of .93 for their overall parental attachment scale; internal consistency estimates for scores from the separate mother and father scales have been reported at .89 and .88, respectively (Papini, Roggman, & Anderson, 1991).…”