NCJ Number
191675
Journal
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 30 Issue: 6 Dated: December 2001 Pages: 653-674
Editor(s)
Daniel Offer
Date Published
2001
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This study explores the nature of adolescent attachment to parents and peers.
Abstract
The population studied consisted of high school juniors and seniors, 47 males and 52 females. Three types of attachment styles were assessed: secure, dismissing, and preoccupied. Several hypotheses were tested. First, individuals who were secure would rate their mothers more important than other support networks such as friends, partner, or father. Second, insecure adolescents would identify more with peers than parents. Lastly, both dismissing and preoccupied groups will rate peers over parents and will differ in the degree of support they received from parents. For instance, dismissing adolescents would rate their parents as a less significant source of support and nominate themselves as primary support. Several forms of measures were used in this study; they included nominative, the Attachment Supportive Inventory (ASI), and demographic characteristics. The researchers’ hypotheses and predictions were supported. According to the authors, this study showed that attachment styles varied considerably during adolescence, but at the same time underscored the significance of parental support during these years. The authors made suggestions and recommendations for future research within this area. First, research needs to address ethnic and socioeconomic differences to create more diverse study samples. Second, data gathered should not rely on a single source. Lastly, longitudinal studies should be used to examine immediate or gradual changes, especially during times when shifts from parents to peers as primary attachment figures occur. Tables, appendices, and references