Assessing attachment in adolescence: a psychometric study of the child attachment interview

Research has established the quality of attachment as an important correlate and predictor of psychological well-being. Adolescence represents an important transitional period and is associated with considerable changes in psychosocial functioning and centrally in attachment relationships. However, measures of attachment are rarely examined for their psychometric properties in adolescence. In an attempt to address this limitation, the current study reports on the use of the Child Attachment Interview (CAI) in adolescents. Our broad aim was to explore the psychometric properties of the CAI classifications and subscales among adolescents with psychiatric disorder in the United States by (a) evaluating interrater reliability of the CAI, (b) examining the factor structure of the CAI subscales in adolescents, (c) examining relations between CAI classifications and subscales, (d) evaluating concurrent validity by assessing relations between the CAI and established questionnaire-based measures of attachment routinely used in adolescent samples, and (e) evaluating convergent validity by exploring relations between the CAI and parent- and self-reported psychopathology and peer relations. One hundred ninety-four inpatient adolescents were recruited. Analyses revealed adequate interrater agreement and revealed 3 factors that generally mirror those associated with the Adult Attachment Interview. Concurrent and convergent evidence to support the use of CAI attachment classifications and subscale scores in adolescents was provided.