Adolescents’ multiple versus single primary attachment figures, reorganization of attachment hierarchy, and adjustments : the important people interview approach

UMEMURA, Tomotaka, Lenka LACINOVÁ, Jakub KRAUS, Eliška HORSKÁ and Lenka PIVODOVÁ. Adolescents’ multiple versus single primary attachment figures, reorganization of attachment hierarchy, and adjustments : the important people interview approach. Attachment & Human Development. Routledge: Abingdon, 2018, vol. 20, No 5, p. 532-552. ISSN 1461-6734. doi:10.1080/14616734.2018.1464040.

Basic information

• Original name: Adolescents’ multiple versus single primary attachment figures, reorganization of attachment hierarchy, and adjustments : the important people interview approach
• Authors: UMEMURA, Tomotaka (392 Japan, belonging to the institution), Lenka LACINOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Jakub KRAUS (703 Slovakia, belonging to the institution), Eliška HORSKÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution) and Lenka PIVODOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution).
• Edition: Attachment & Human Development, Routledge, Abingdon, 2018, 1461-6734.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 50101 Psychology
• Country of publisher: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: článek v databázi Taylor & Francis
• Impact factor: Impact factor: 2.215
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14230/18:00100908
• Organization unit: Faculty of Social Studies
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14616734.2018.1464040
• UT WoS: 000452154300005
• Keywords in English: Adolescence; attachment hierarchy; internalizing and externalizing problems; multiple-informant approach; positive and negative affect schedule
• Tags: rivok
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

Using 212 adolescents from a central-European country (mean age = 14.02, SD = 2.05, ranged from 11 to 18 years; females = 54%) and a multi-informant method to measure adolescents’ behavioral and emotional adjustments, the present study explored three aspects regarding the attachment hierarchy. (1) The three types of behavioral systems of Rosenthal and Kobak’s important people interview (IPI) were initially validated using an exploratory factor analysis with a US sample. Using a confirmatory factor analysis with a Czech sample, we replicated these three behavioral systems: attachment bond, support seeking, and affiliation. (2) We found that adolescents who developed attachment bond to multiple primary attachment figures were likely to score lower on both teacher-rated and parent-rated internalizing problems compared to those who had a single primary attachment figure. These multiple primary attachment figures tended to be family members (not peers). (3) Early adolescents who placed parents low in their attachment hierarchy scored higher on self-reported negative affect and lower on self-reported positive affect compared to early adolescents who placed parents high. The present study highlights multiple (vs. single) primary attachment figures as a protective factor and the premature reorganization of attachment hierarchy as a risk factor for adolescents’ emotional and affective adjustments.

Links

• GA16-03059S, research and development project: Name: Vývoj vztahů v adolescenci: Využití perspektivy citové vazby, dynamicko-systémového přístupu a metody časových řad (Acronym: VVvA)

Investor: Czech Science Foundation