Skip to main content
Top
Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Child and Family Studies 4/2020

13-11-2019 | Original Paper

Adolescents’ Attachment: Content and Discriminant Validity of the Friends and Family Interview

Auteurs: Cecilia Serena Pace, Stefania Muzi, Howard Steele

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Child and Family Studies | Uitgave 4/2020

Log in om toegang te krijgen
share
DELEN

Deel dit onderdeel of sectie (kopieer de link)

  • Optie A:
    Klik op de rechtermuisknop op de link en selecteer de optie “linkadres kopiëren”
  • Optie B:
    Deel de link per e-mail

Abstract

Objectives

There are few methods to assess attachment representations during adolescence, all showing strengths and limits. The Friends and Family Interview (FFI) is the only narrative interview considering a wide range of relevant domains in adolescents’ life, including peer and sibling relationships, as well as self-esteem, relations with parents and reflective functioning. However, the FFI has been used sparingly with community samples, never with adolescents older than 14-years, and few studies have investigated its psychometric characteristics. This study aimed at investigating the content and discriminant validity of the FFI, comparing the distribution of FFI classifications with the distribution observed in adolescents in response to the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI), based on national and international meta-analytic reports. This paper also aimed to consider FFI classifications and rating scales with respondents’ gender, age, verbal intelligence and internalizing-externalizing problems.

Methods

Participants were 110 adolescents aged 11–17 years (M = 14.22, 50% boys), recruited from schools in North-west Italy, coming from low risk families. Measures administered were the FFI, the Verbal Comprehension Index of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV (ICV-WISC-IV) for verbal skills, the Child Behavior Checklist 6–18 years (CBCL) for internalizing–externalizing problems.

Results

The distribution of FFI classifications overlapped with the AAI distribution seen in a national meta-analysis, while less insecure dismissing and disorganized FFI responses were found compared to the AAI distribution in the international meta-analytic report; girls were more secure and less dismissing than boys, while FFI classifications were unrelated to adolescents’ age, verbal skills, or internalizing–externalizing problems, although relevant correlations were found with some of the FFI rating scales.

Conclusions

Within a culturally-oriented perspective, the FFI appears to be a reliable and valid method to investigate adolescent IWMs in both research and clinical settings.
Literatuur
go back to reference Achenbach, T. M., & Rescorla, L. A. (2001). Manual for the ASEBA school—age forms and profiles. Burlington: University of Vermont, Research Center for Children Youth and Families. Achenbach, T. M., & Rescorla, L. A. (2001). Manual for the ASEBA school—age forms and profiles. Burlington: University of Vermont, Research Center for Children Youth and Families.
go back to reference Ainsworth, M. D. S., Blehar, M. C., Waters, E., & Wall, S. (1978). Patterns of attachment: A psychological study of the strange situation. Oxford, England: Lawrence Erlbaum. Ainsworth, M. D. S., Blehar, M. C., Waters, E., & Wall, S. (1978). Patterns of attachment: A psychological study of the strange situation. Oxford, England: Lawrence Erlbaum.
go back to reference Allen, J. P., & Tan, J. (2016). The multiple facets of attachment in adolescence. In J. Cassidy & P. R. Shaver (Eds.), Handbook of attachment, third edition: theory, research, and clinical applications (pp. 399–415). New York, NY: Guildford press. Allen, J. P., & Tan, J. (2016). The multiple facets of attachment in adolescence. In J. Cassidy & P. R. Shaver (Eds.), Handbook of attachment, third edition: theory, research, and clinical applications (pp. 399–415). New York, NY: Guildford press.
go back to reference Borelli, J. L., Somers, J., West, J. L., Coffey, J. K., De Los Reyes, A., & Shmueli-Goetz, Y. (2016). Associations between attachment narratives and self-report measures of attachment in middle childhood: extending evidence for the validity of the child attachment interview. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25(4), 1235–1246. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-015-0310-8.CrossRef Borelli, J. L., Somers, J., West, J. L., Coffey, J. K., De Los Reyes, A., & Shmueli-Goetz, Y. (2016). Associations between attachment narratives and self-report measures of attachment in middle childhood: extending evidence for the validity of the child attachment interview. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25(4), 1235–1246. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1007/​s10826-015-0310-8.CrossRef
go back to reference Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss: attachment (Vol.1). New York, NY: Basic Books. Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss: attachment (Vol.1). New York, NY: Basic Books.
go back to reference Bowlby, J. (1980). Attachment and loss: loss, sadness and depression (Vol. 3). New York, NY: Basic Books. Bowlby, J. (1980). Attachment and loss: loss, sadness and depression (Vol. 3). New York, NY: Basic Books.
go back to reference George, C., Kaplan, N., & Main, M. (1985). The Adult Attachment Interview. Berkeley: University of California at Berkeley. George, C., Kaplan, N., & Main, M. (1985). The Adult Attachment Interview. Berkeley: University of California at Berkeley.
go back to reference Grice, H. P. (1975). Logic and conversation. In: P. Cole & J. Morgan (Eds.) Studies in syntax and semantics III: Speech acts (pp. 183–198). New York: Academic Press. Grice, H. P. (1975). Logic and conversation. In: P. Cole & J. Morgan (Eds.) Studies in syntax and semantics III: Speech acts (pp. 183–198). New York: Academic Press.
go back to reference Hesse, E. (2016). The Adult Attachment Interview Protocol, method of analysis, and selected empirical studies: 1985–2015. In J. Cassidy & P. R. Shaver (Eds), Handbook of Attachment Third Edition Theory, Research, and Clinical Applications (pp. 553–597). New York, NY: Guildford press. Hesse, E. (2016). The Adult Attachment Interview Protocol, method of analysis, and selected empirical studies: 1985–2015. In J. Cassidy & P. R. Shaver (Eds), Handbook of Attachment Third Edition Theory, Research, and Clinical Applications (pp. 553–597). New York, NY: Guildford press.
go back to reference Lopez, F. G., Melendez, M. C., Sauer, E. M., Berger, E., & Wyssmann, J. (1998). Internal working models, self-reported problems, and help-seeking attitudes among college students. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 45(1), 79.CrossRef Lopez, F. G., Melendez, M. C., Sauer, E. M., Berger, E., & Wyssmann, J. (1998). Internal working models, self-reported problems, and help-seeking attitudes among college students. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 45(1), 79.CrossRef
go back to reference Main, M., Goldwyn, R., & Hesse, E. (2008). Adult attachment scoring and classification system. Berkeley: Department of Psychology, University of California at Berkeley. Main, M., Goldwyn, R., & Hesse, E. (2008). Adult attachment scoring and classification system. Berkeley: Department of Psychology, University of California at Berkeley.
go back to reference Orsini, A., Pezzuti, L., & Picone, L. (2012). WISC-IV: Contributo alla taratura italiana. Firenze: Giunti O.S. Orsini, A., Pezzuti, L., & Picone, L. (2012). WISC-IV: Contributo alla taratura italiana. Firenze: Giunti O.S.
go back to reference Pace, C. S., D’Onofrio, E., Guerriero, V., & Zavattini, G. C. (2016). A proposal for a brief-term post-adoption intervention in the attachment-perspective: a single case study with a late-adopted child and his adoptive mother. Research in Psychotherapy, 19 (1). https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2016.197 Pace, C. S., D’Onofrio, E., Guerriero, V., & Zavattini, G. C. (2016). A proposal for a brief-term post-adoption intervention in the attachment-perspective: a single case study with a late-adopted child and his adoptive mother. Research in Psychotherapy, 19 (1). https://​doi.​org/​10.​4081/​ripppo.​2016.​197
go back to reference Pace, C. S., Di Folco, S., & Guerriero, V. (2018). Late‐adoptions in adolescence: can attachment and emotion regulation influence behaviour problems? A controlled study using a moderation approach. Clinical psychology & psychotherapy, 25(2), 250–262. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2158.CrossRef Pace, C. S., Di Folco, S., & Guerriero, V. (2018). Late‐adoptions in adolescence: can attachment and emotion regulation influence behaviour problems? A controlled study using a moderation approach. Clinical psychology & psychotherapy, 25(2), 250–262. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1002/​cpp.​2158.CrossRef
go back to reference Psouni, E., Breinholst, S., Esbjørn, B.H. & Steele, H. (2019). Factor structure of the Friends and Family Interview. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. In press. Psouni, E., Breinholst, S., Esbjørn, B.H. & Steele, H. (2019). Factor structure of the Friends and Family Interview. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. In press.
go back to reference Sourander, A., Helstelä, L., & Helenius, H. (1999). Parent–adolescent agreement on emotional and behavioral problems. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 34(12), 657–663.CrossRef Sourander, A., Helstelä, L., & Helenius, H. (1999). Parent–adolescent agreement on emotional and behavioral problems. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 34(12), 657–663.CrossRef
go back to reference Steele, H., Steele, M., Kerns, K. A., & Richardson, R. A. (2005). The Construct of Coherence as an Indicator of attachment security in middle childhood: the Friends and Family Interview. Attachment in middle childhood (pp. 137–160). New York, NY, US: Guilford Press. Steele, H., Steele, M., Kerns, K. A., & Richardson, R. A. (2005). The Construct of Coherence as an Indicator of attachment security in middle childhood: the Friends and Family Interview. Attachment in middle childhood (pp. 137–160). New York, NY, US: Guilford Press.
go back to reference Steele, H., Steele, M., & Kriss, A. (2009). FFI Scoring System. (N. S. & S. R., Eds). New York, NY: Center for Attachment Research. Unpublished document. Steele, H., Steele, M., & Kriss, A. (2009). FFI Scoring System. (N. S. & S. R., Eds). New York, NY: Center for Attachment Research. Unpublished document.
go back to reference Verhage, M. L., Schuengel, C., Madigan, S., Fearon, P., Oosterman, M., Cassibba, R., & Van Ijzendoorn, M. H. (2016). Narrowing the transmission gap: a synthesis of three decades of research on intergenerational transmission of attachment. Psychological Bulletin, 142(4), 337–366. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000038.CrossRefPubMed Verhage, M. L., Schuengel, C., Madigan, S., Fearon, P., Oosterman, M., Cassibba, R., & Van Ijzendoorn, M. H. (2016). Narrowing the transmission gap: a synthesis of three decades of research on intergenerational transmission of attachment. Psychological Bulletin, 142(4), 337–366. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1037/​bul0000038.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Wechsler, D. (2003). Wechsler intelligence scale for children—Fourth edition (WISC-IV). San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation. Wechsler, D. (2003). Wechsler intelligence scale for children—Fourth edition (WISC-IV). San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.
Metagegevens
Titel
Adolescents’ Attachment: Content and Discriminant Validity of the Friends and Family Interview
Auteurs
Cecilia Serena Pace
Stefania Muzi
Howard Steele
Publicatiedatum
13-11-2019
Uitgeverij
Springer US
Gepubliceerd in
Journal of Child and Family Studies / Uitgave 4/2020
Print ISSN: 1062-1024
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-2843
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01654-8

Andere artikelen Uitgave 4/2020

Journal of Child and Family Studies 4/2020 Naar de uitgave