Parenting, Marital Conflict and Adjustment From Early- to Mid-Adolescence: Mediated by Adolescent Attachment Style?

Authors: Doyle, Anna; Markiewicz, Dorothy

Source: Journal of Youth and Adolescence, Volume 34, Number 2, April 2005 , pp. 97-110(14)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

Contributions of 3 dimensions of parenting (psychological control, warmth, and behavioural control), marital conflict, and attachment style (anxiety and avoidance) to adjustment from early to middle adolescence were assessed. Mediation of marital conflict effects by parenting, and of parenting effects by attachment were examined. Adolescents (n = 175) initially age 13 years reported parenting practices, attachment styles, school grades, self-esteem, and internalizing and externalizing problems twice (T1, T2) 2 years apart. T1 marital conflict was associated with lower self-esteem, more externalizing symptoms, and lower academic achievement at T2, all but the latter mediated by parental warmth. T1 parental psychological control was associated with increases in internalizing symptoms over time, an effect not mediated by attachment insecurity, which contributed independently. T1 parental warmth was associated with decreases in externalizing symptoms and increases in self-esteem over time, the latter mediated by attachment security.

Keywords: parenting; adolescence; adjustment; marital discord; attachment

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10964-005-3209-7

Affiliations: 1: Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada, H4B 1R6, Email: abdoyle@vax2.concordia.ca

Publication date: 2005-04-01