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Pathways to adolescent internalizing: early attachment insecurity as a lasting source of vulnerability
Stephanie Milan1, Kate Zona, Stephanie Snow
1Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-1020, USA. Stephanie.milan@uconn.edu
Summary
Early childhood attachment insecurity can indirectly lead to adolescent internalizing symptoms through specific pathways. This process, particularly affecting girls, involves maternal emotions and parent-adolescent interactions during adolescence.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Child Psychiatry
Background:
- Theoretical links exist between early childhood attachment quality and adolescent internalizing symptoms.
- Empirical evidence for direct effects remains limited, necessitating investigation into indirect pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine whether early attachment insecurity indirectly contributes to adolescent internalizing symptoms.
- To test a moderated mediation model exploring pathways from attachment to internalizing symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal data from 910 adolescents (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care) were analyzed.
- Structural equation modeling and bootstrapping were employed to test moderated mediation.
Main Results:
- Insecure early attachment predicted maternal negative emotions, reduced parent-adolescent availability, and increased adolescent preoccupation with relationships.
- This pathway was not observed in securely attached youth.
- The link between relationship preoccupation and internalizing symptoms was moderated by attachment history and gender, particularly impacting girls.
Conclusions:
- Early attachment history can indirectly influence adolescent internalizing symptoms via specific developmental pathways.
- Maternal emotional regulation and parent-adolescent interaction quality are critical mediators.
- Findings highlight gender and attachment differences in the development of internalizing symptoms during adolescence.
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