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Adolescents' attachment representations and developmental tasks in emerging adulthood
Miri Scharf1, Ofra Mayseless1, Inbal Kivenson-Baron1
1Faculty of Education.
Developmental Psychology
|May 5, 2004
Summary
Adolescent attachment styles influence key developmental tasks. An autonomous state of mind, identified via the Adult Attachment Interview, predicted better adjustment to military service and mature intimacy, but not individuation.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Attachment Theory
Background:
- Adolescence involves critical developmental tasks including leaving home, achieving mature intimacy, and individuation.
- Attachment representations formed in adolescence can impact the navigation of these emerging adult challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between adolescent attachment representations and their coping with three key developmental tasks.
- To investigate how attachment influences adjustment to military service, capacity for intimacy, and individuation in emerging adulthood.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 88 Israeli male adolescents.
- Adult Attachment Interview administered in high school.
- Adjustment to military service assessed by self and peer reports one year later.
- Intimacy and individuation assessed by self and parent reports three years later.
Main Results:
- An autonomous state of mind was significantly associated with better coping with basic military training.
- Autonomous attachment predicted a higher capacity for mature intimacy.
- No significant association was found between autonomous attachment and markers of individuation.
Conclusions:
- Attachment representations play a crucial role in shaping an individual's developmental trajectory during emerging adulthood.
- Autonomous attachment facilitates adaptation to demanding environments and the development of intimate relationships.
- Further research is needed to understand the relationship between attachment and individuation.
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