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Journal of Child and Family Studies

Gepubliceerd in:

27-08-2019 | Original Paper

Emerging Adults’ Relationship with Caregivers and their Romantic Attachment: Quality Communication Helps

Auteurs: Anna Luerssen, Jacob Shane, Mia Budescu

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Child and Family Studies | Uitgave 12/2019

Abstract

Objectives

Caregivers play an influential role in their child’s romantic attachment representations in emerging adulthood. In the current research, we explored one possible mechanism underlying this connection, the quality of caregiver-child communication about romantic relationships as indexed by emerging adults’ perceptions of the frequency, comfortableness, and helpfulness of these conversations with their female caregiver.

Methods

Survey data from a sample of emerging adults enrolled in an American university were analyzed with structural equation modeling to evaluate this mediational prediction using causal steps and bootstrapping of indirect effects approaches.

Results

A higher quality caregiver-child relationship (higher support, less strain) was associated with higher quality communication about romantic relationships, and this communication was associated with lower attachment anxiety (indirect effect from support: β = −0.085; 95% CI [−0.139, −0.036], p = 0.001; indirect from strain: β = 0.020; 95% CI [0.005, 0.040], p = 0.026) and attachment avoidance (indirect effect from support: β = −0.094; 95% CI [−0.151, −0.043], p = 0.001; indirect effect from strain: β = 0.022; 95% CI [0.006, 0.043], p = 0.021). Fit statistics and indirect effects for the hypothesized model were compared and found superior to a variety of alternative models.

Conclusions

The quality of emerging adults’ conversations with their female caregiver about romantic relationships mediated the relationship between caregiver-child relationship quality and romantic attachment representations. Results are discussed in terms of the importance of romantic relationships and romantic attachment and the connection between the caregiver-child relationship and these outcomes in emerging adulthood.

vorige artikel The Assessment of the Attitudes and Behaviors about Physically Abused Children: A Survey of Mental Health Professionals

volgende artikel Do Parental Behaviours Predict Anxiety Symptom Levels? A 3 Year Follow Up

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Titel: Emerging Adults’ Relationship with Caregivers and their Romantic Attachment: Quality Communication Helps
Auteurs: Anna Luerssen
Jacob Shane
Mia Budescu
Publicatiedatum: 27-08-2019
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Child and Family Studies / Uitgave 12/2019
Print ISSN: 1062-1024
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-2843
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01523-4

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Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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