1. 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
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: 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***