Introduction Results Hypotheses Conclusions Method Attachment in Early Adolescence as a Predictor of Professional Development in Young Adulthood Elisabeth A. Burleson & David E. Szwedo James Madison University Elisabeth A Burleson burlesea@dukes.jmu.edu Introduction Measures Youth Attachment (assessed at Age 13): The Adult Attachment Interview is a measure used to assess teens’ childhood relationships with each of their parents. Teens were assigned attachment classifications based on the coherence and quality of their responses. The Attachment Q-sort procedure was used to indicate qualities and categorization of attachment. Scoring indicated a label of either Secure/Autonomous or Dismissing. Grade Point Average (assessed at Age 13): Youth’s reported Grade Point Average in 7th grade was used as an objective measure of academic and intellectual ability. Professional Development (assessed at Age 26): The Young Adult Adjustment Scale is a measure used to assess young adult social and professional development. Young adults’ mothers answered subscales about youth to measure various constructs, including: Positive Work Performance, Satisfaction with Current Job, Successfulness, Positive Academic/Professional Ambition, and Youth Positive Functional Independence. Attachment Security Secure attachment is positively correlated with workplace vigor and positive workplace behaviors and social interactions with coworkers (Little, Nelson, Wallace, & Johnson, 2010). Secure attachment predicts occupational commitment; insecure attachment predicts low levels of occupational commitment and workplace interference (Scrima, Stefano, Guarnaccia, & Lorito, 2015) Insecure attachment styles are predictors for higher levels of turnover intentions (Tziner, David, Oren, & Sharoni, 2014). Insecure attachment styles are negatively correlated with self-efficacy, perceived social support, and coping within the workplace (Johnstone & Feeney, 2015). Scholastic Ability Adolescent ambition and educational performance were positively related to social status attainment and earnings (Ashby, Schoon, & Buhrmester, 2010) Professional Development Positive parenting during adolescence was significantly associated with young adult career success, satisfaction, autonomy, and commitment (Gordon & Cui, 2013) Evidence shows that ambition values and teenage career aspirations were positively associated with educational performance (Ashby, Schoon, & Buhrmester, 2010) Teen Dismissing Attachment (age 13) in regression analyses as a predictor of professional development variables (age 26) Gender and Family Income accounted for in analyses Teen Dismissing Attachment and GPA (age 13) in regression analyses as predictors of professional development variables (age 26) Gender and Family Income accounted for in analyses Blue represents standard estimate of teen attachment dismissing in regression analysis Pink represents standard estimate of GPA in regression analysis Adding GPA as a predictor in regression analyses resulted in Teen Dismissing Attachment standard estimates to decrease in many analyses, suggesting GPA’s role as a mediator Results 4. Youth’s attachment interacted with grade-point-average to predict youth’s positive work performance, such that having a more secure attachment (or having a less dismissing attachment) buffers against the negative effects of having a lower GPA. 1. Youth secure attachment uniquely predicted positive qualities of professional development in young adulthood. 2. Youth dismissing attachment uniquely predicted negative qualities of professional development in young adulthood. 3. Youth grade-point-average uniquely predicted positive qualities of professional development in young adulthood. Hypotheses 1. Youth secure attachment will uniquely predict positive qualities of professional development in young adulthood. Interaction Results: High Secure Attachment predicts positive work performance regardless of GPA Low Dismissing Attachment predicts positive work performance regardless of GPA High GPA will predict positive work performance regardless of attachment quality High Secure Attachment or Low Dismissing Attachment will help youth compensate for a lower GPA for predicting positive work performance 2. Youth dismissing attachment will uniquely predict negative qualities of professional development in young adulthood. 3. Youth grade-point-average will uniquely predict positive qualities of professional development in young adulthood. Conclusions 4. There will be an interaction between youth’s attachment and grade-point- average to predict youth’s professional development, such that having a positive attachment will buffer against the negative effects of having a lower GPA. Early Adolescence Constructs Secure Attachment predicted positive qualities of professional development Dismissing Attachment predicted negative qualities of professional development Grade Point Average predicted positive qualities of professional development Attachment and GPA for Professional Development in Young Adulthood Both Attachment and GPA were significant independent predictors for professional development in young adulthood When Attachment and GPA were both accounted for, GPA was the significant predictor for professional development Having the potential for more positive (or less negative) relationships with others might help facilitate positive work performance even if intellectual ability is more limited Method Teen Attachment Security (age 13) in regression analyses as a predictor of professional development variables (age 26) Gender and Family Income accounted for in analyses Teen Attachment Security and GPA (age 13) in regression analyses as predictors of professional development variables (age 26) Gender and Family Income accounted for in analyses Participants Data were collected from a larger study of adolescent social development: N=184 Total participants included: 86 males, 98 females Number of participants for longitudinal analyses: 115-138 participants Race and Ethnicity: 107 Caucasian, 53 African American, 24 Mixed/ Other Median family income = $40,000-$59,000 Green represents standard estimate of teen attachment security in regression analyses Pink represents standard estimate of GPA in regression analyses Adding GPA as a predictor in regression analyses resulted in Teen Attachment Security standard estimates to decrease in many analyses, suggesting GPA’s role as a mediator Note: M= Mother Report. p< .05*, p< .01**, p< .001***