Examining Differences in Adult Attachment Across Varying Family Dynamics
Year: 2023
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Recent research suggests that attachment in adulthood impacts many aspects of an individual’s life, including experiences with romantic partners, emotional regulation, and overall life satisfaction. Research attributes this to the levels of attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance individuals experience due to relationship experiences with their caregivers in childhood. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between specific family dynamics and the presence of attachment anxiety and avoidance in adulthood. The present study recruited 185 adults to participate in an anonymous survey about the family dynamics they experienced in childhood, including the relationship between their parents or guardians (married/partnered, divorced, separated), the presence of biological, adoptive, foster, or extended family members in the home, and their self-reported family type (e.g., traditional, two-parent nuclear family, blended family, single-parent family). Multivariate analyses suggest that the relationship between caregivers in childhood influences attachment anxiety and avoidance in adulthood. Implications for further research and social work practice are discussed.
Author: Miller, Hannah
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6991085814