Child- Parent Attachment and the Effect into Adolescence Antonia Hernandez & Theresa Lam

Introduction Video: Marie Part 1

Article Title “The reciprocal relationship between parent- child connectedness and adolescent emotional functioning over 5 years.” ▫Kerri Boutelle, Marla E. Eisenberg, Melissa L. Gregory, Dianne Neumark- Sztainer.

Study Focus: Depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and body dissatisfaction. 16.5% of teens report psychopathology issues. Attachment types and the effect it has on children.

Study Cont. Goal of study: Examine the relationships between adolescent perceptions of parent child connectedness and the symptoms of depressive, esteem, and body views. Method: ▫Longitudinal (5 year study) ▫2516 teens (1386 females males) ▫Classroom and mail survey

Study Cont. Measures: ▫Body satisfaction: Body Shape Satisfaction Scale ▫Self- esteem: Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory ▫Depression symptoms: Past year, Kandel & Davies  Dysthymic mood, nervousness, fatigue, worry, sleep issues, hopelessness  Demographics also were studied- cultural identity of children

Study cont. Results: ▫70-75% confide in their mothers. ▫63-65% confide in their fathers. ▫90-99% believe mother cares about them very much. ▫78-82% believe father cares about them very much. ▫Males reported scored higher in body satisfaction, self- esteem, and lower depressive symptoms then females.

Study Cont. Results (5 years later): ▫High parent-child connectedness resulted in high body satisfaction, self-esteem, and low depression in males and females. ▫1-4% overall effectiveness. ▫Reciprocal relationship-  High self esteem = high connectedness  High depressive symptoms= low connectedness

Conclusion Limitations: ▫Self- report ▫No report on parental emotional functioning Parental influence is influential on children and should be taken into consideration when raising young children.

Discussion Questions Do you believe that parental attachment influences adolescents more or less than peer influences?

Closing Video: Marie Part 2

Article Title “Avoidant attachment and the Experience of Parenting.” ▫W. Stevens Rholes, Jeffry A. Simpson, Mike Friedman.

Study Focus: ▫Attachment style, avoidance, transition to parent hood, and stress. Avoidant attachment and it’s affect for first time parents. Goal of study: ▫Examine the relationship of first time parents in the transition to parenthood and affects of parent child relationships.

Study Cont. Method: ▫106 Couples ▫2 sessions, Time 1: Prenatal (6 weeks) & Time 2: Postnatal (6 months) ▫Local hospital Measures: ▫Attachment dimension: Thoughts and feelings ▫Desire to become a parent ▫Marital satisfaction ▫Depressive symptoms ▫Parental meaning and satisfaction ▫Parental stress:

Study Cont. Results: ▫Desire to Become a Parent Scale  Women expressed stronger desires than men.  Parental Meaning/Satisfaction Scale Women express greater meaning & satisfaction Depressive Symptoms Scale Women reported more symptoms Parenting Stress Inventory Men reported less stress Prenatal & Postnatal Avoidance Scales Men more avoidant

Conclusion Highly avoidant people enter parenthood with less desire to become parents, more depressive symptoms, and less satisfying marriages. 6 months postpartum perceive child care as stressful, less satisfying, and meaningful. Affects parent-child relationship. Insecure and secure attachment passed on.

Discussion Question Has secure or insecure attachment styles from your parents affected any of your relationships?

References Boutelle, K., Eisenberg E., M., Gregory, L.M., Neumark-Sztainer, D. The reciprocal relationship between parent–child connectedness and adolescent emotional functioning over 5 years. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. April 2009 (Vol. 66, Issue 4, Pages DOI: /j.jpsychores ) Cavuoto, E. [Ennio Cavuoto]. (2008, October 19). Everybody Loves Raymond-Lucky Suit: Clip 1. Retrieved from: Cavuoto, E. [Ennio Cavuoto]. (2008, October 19). Everybody Loves Raymond-Lucky Suit: Clip 2. Retrieved from: Rholes, S., Simpson., J., Friedman, M. Avoidant Attachment and the Experience of Parenting. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. November 2007 (Vol. 32, Issue 3, Pages )