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Advances in Attachment Processes in Adolescence and Adulthood: Contexts and Developmental Trajectories at Risk

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Behavioral and Mental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 December 2024 | Viewed by 14773

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Laura E. Prino

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Guest Editor

Department of Philosophy and Education Sciences, University of Turin, 10024 Turin, Italy
Interests: attachment; parent–infant interaction; parenting; early development; caregiving; teacher–child interaction; professional caregiving; emotion regulation; family relationships; COVID-19

Dr. Angelica Arace

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Guest Editor

Department of Philosophy and Education Sciences, University of Turin, 10024 Turin, Italy
Interests: attachment; parenting; professional caregiving; family relationships; infancy development; child abuse and neglect; COVID-19; early childhood education and care

Prof. Dr. Avi Besser

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Guest Editor

Department of Communication Disorders/School for Sciences, Health and Society, Hadassah Academic College, Jerusalem 9101001, Israel
Interests: vulnerability factors in postpartum depression; attachment and psychological adjustment in children, adolescents and mothers; perfectionism; self-criticism/dependency; distress and depression; suicidality; self-esteem; humor styles; PTSD; narcissism

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, attachment theory, which was originally formulated to explain infant-parent emotional bonding, has been applied to the study of psychological processes also in adolescence and adulthood. Attachment theory predicts that attachment styles developed in previous relational experiences affect interpersonal functioning, emotion regulation and mentalization, the way people cope with stressful events and, consequently, their mental health.

In this frame, secure attachment can be considered a protective factor: interactions with available and supportive caregivers impart a sense of safety, trigger positive emotions and provide psychological resources for dealing with problems and adversities, increasing resilience and improving mental health. On the opposite side, interactions with insensitive, inconsistent or frightening attachment figures reduce resilience in coping with stressful life events, predisposing a person to breaking down psychologically in times of crisis. Thus, they are risk factors for mental disorders.

Today, this complex and constantly evolving theoretical paradigm allows describing, throughout the life cycle, not only the typical trajectories of development, but also atypical trajectories and the effects of attachment discontinuity and disorders.

The objective of this Special Issue is, therefore, to deepen the knowledge of attachment development processes, considering in particular the atypical developmental trajectories of attachment during adolescence and adulthood, characterized by contexts at risk and/or by critical paranormative events.

Possible areas of interest for this Special Issue comprise but are not limited to:

Maltreatment and abuse
Psychopathology and behavioral problems in adolescence and adulthood
Institutionalization
Traumatic experiences
Suicidal risk
Relational violence
Criminal careers
Adoption and foster care
Parenting in risky contexts
Addiction issues

Dr. Laura E. Prino
Dr. Angelica Arace
Prof. Dr. Avi Besser
Guest Editors

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Keywords

attachment
life cycle
adolescence
adulthood
critical paranormative events
attachment development processes
trajectories of development

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 856 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Association Between Adult Attachment Patterns, Attachment to Group and Mental Health in Israel Following the October 7th Attack: The Role of Emotion Regulation Strategies

by Yitshak Alfasi and Avi Besser

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(11), 1443; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21111443 - 30 Oct 2024

Viewed by 495

Abstract

We examined the associations between attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, and attachment to group (to Israel) and mental health scores. The study used a community sample of 434 participants in response to the October 7th attack on Israel. Additionally, we explored the potential mechanisms linking these attachment patterns to mental health scores. We focused on emotion regulation strategies, such as task-focused, emotion-focused, and distance-focused strategies, as potential mediators. The results indicated that the negative direct association between attachment anxiety and mental health is fully mediated by a high emotion-focused strategy and a low task-focused strategy. Attachment avoidance did not have a significant direct association with mental health scores. However, it had significant negative indirect associations through a high emotion-focused strategy and a low task-focused strategy. Attachment to the group (to Israel) showed both direct and indirect positive associations with mental health through a low emotion-focused strategy and a high task-focused strategy. The discussion highlights the role of internal representations of insecure attachment, group attachment, and emotion regulation strategies (especially emotion- and task-focused strategies) in how highly stressful external situations affect mental health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Attachment Processes in Adolescence and Adulthood: Contexts and Developmental Trajectories at Risk)

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17 pages, 1134 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sharing Your Husband: Adult Attachment Styles and Emotional Responses of Israeli Bedouin-Arab Women to Potential Polygynous Marriage

by Nuzha Allassad Alhuzail, Avi Besser and Virgil Zeigler-Hill

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(10), 1281; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21101281 - 26 Sep 2024

Viewed by 1103

Abstract

Polygynous marriage is prevalent among Israel’s Bedouin-Arab community, despite being explicitly banned by state law. Cultural traditions and customs permit men to take multiple wives, and Islamic teachings do not prohibit the practice. The impact of polygyny is significant, affecting women, children, and society as a whole in various ways. We examined the connections that attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance had with hypothetical responses to the potential threat of polygynous marriages in a community sample of young unmarried Israeli Bedouin-Arab women (n = 306). Participants were randomly assigned to imagine either a high-threat scenario (i.e., finding that their husband decided to take a second wife; n = 151) or a low-threat scenario (i.e., their husband would not decide to take a second wife; n = 155) and report their anticipated responses to these scenarios. Results showed that attachment anxiety was positively associated with anticipated negative emotional responses in the high-threat condition but not in the low-threat condition. However, neither attachment anxiety nor attachment avoidance were associated with the perceived threat of polygyny to their marriage. The findings of this study suggest that attachment styles play a significant role in shaping women’s perceptions and reactions to hypothetical polygynous marriages. Women with anxious attachment styles are more likely to experience intensified negative emotions regarding such marriages, while those with avoidant attachment styles may display greater tolerance toward polygyny. These results highlight the need for tailored interventions and support systems that take into account individual psychological profiles as well as the broader cultural context of Israeli Bedouin-Arab society. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Attachment Processes in Adolescence and Adulthood: Contexts and Developmental Trajectories at Risk)

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10 pages, 326 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Attachment Anxiety and Avoidance in Predicting Proximal Minority Stressors among Gay and Lesbian People in Italy

by Tommaso Trombetta, Maria Noemi Paradiso, Fabrizio Santoniccolo and Luca Rollè

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(6), 655; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21060655 - 21 May 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1313

Abstract

As has been widely documented, minority stress affects the psychosocial well-being of gay and lesbian people. Recently, researchers have turned their attention to psychological factors that may influence the level of minority stress experienced, in order to explain individual differences in perceptions of proximal minority stressors. The present research aimed at assessing the effect of attachment avoidance and anxiety on levels of perceived stigma and internalized homonegativity. A total of 163 participants who self-identified as lesbian or gay (M_age = 32.56, SD = 10.87) were recruited and responded to the self-report questionnaires. Two multiple regression models were applied to assess the association between adult attachment and perceived stigma and internalized homonegativity. Results showed a positive association between attachment anxiety and avoidance and internalized homonegativity, as well as between attachment avoidance and perceived stigma. The emerging results demonstrate the impact of attachment anxiety and avoidance on proximal minority stressors and provide useful data for interventions addressing lesbian and gay people aimed at promoting security-based strategies of affect regulation and positive representations of self and others, which in turn may reduce the level of proximal minority stressors experienced and promote psychosocial well-being. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Attachment Processes in Adolescence and Adulthood: Contexts and Developmental Trajectories at Risk)

15 pages, 358 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cybersex and Attachment Styles: Proposal of the Emotional and Relational Aspects in Cybersex Activities (ERACA) Questionnaire

by Andrea Baroncelli, Maria Giulia Taddei, Roberta Giommi, Elena Lenzi, Carolina Facci and Enrica Ciucci

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(24), 7151; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20247151 - 7 Dec 2023

Viewed by 1846

Abstract

The current study presents the development and the initial validation of a new questionnaire to assess individual differences in emotional and relational aspects related to cybersex activities (i.e., the ERACA). A total of 246 adults (105 females, mean age = 31.89 years, SD = 10.03) coming from the general adult population participated in the study. The items of the ERACA were developed considering the extant literature, and an exploratory factor analysis approach indicated a three-factor structure (i.e., the gratification of the Self through the objectification of other people, the gratification of the Self through relational aspects, betrayal, and infidelity). The associations between the dimensions of the ERACA and dimensional measures of both attachment styles and online sexual behaviors indicated that different aspects related to the quality of the relationships play a different role in individual differences concerning emotional and relational aspects of cybersex activities. The discussion emphasizes the potential usefulness of the ERACA questionnaire for both research purposes and from a health-promoting point of view. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Attachment Processes in Adolescence and Adulthood: Contexts and Developmental Trajectories at Risk)

19 pages, 1906 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Placement of Children in Need of Out-of-Home Care: Forms of Care and Differences in Attachment Security and Behavioral Problems in the Italian Context

by Rosalinda Cassibba, Caterina Balenzano, Fabiola Silletti, Gabrielle Coppola, Alessandro Costantini, Stefania Giorgio, Alessandro Taurino, Charissa S. L. Cheah and Pasquale Musso

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(23), 7111; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20237111 - 25 Nov 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1883

Abstract

The current paper investigated differences in secure attachment levels and behavioral problems among four groups of children in out-of-home care in Italy: closed adoption (child and birth parents not in contact following adoption), open adoption (child and birth parents still in contact after placement), foster care (child living temporarily with relatives or unrelated foster parents) and institutional care (child in residential care for large groups of children). One hundred and thirty children aged 10–19 were included in this study. The Attachment Interview for Childhood and Adolescence and the Achenbach Youth Self-Report were employed to measure participants’ secure attachment levels and behavioral problems. Both a multivariate analysis of covariance and measured variable path analysis were performed. Age, gender and time elapsed between the request for child protection and placement on out-of-home care were used as covariates. The results showed that adolescents in closed adoption had higher secure attachment scores than those in foster care and institutional care, while adolescents in open adoption scored significantly higher on problem behaviors than those in the other out-of-home care groups. Findings were discussed in terms of limitations and implications for future research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Attachment Processes in Adolescence and Adulthood: Contexts and Developmental Trajectories at Risk)

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13 pages, 388 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Attachment Stability and Longitudinal Prediction of Psychotic-like Symptoms in Community Adolescents over Four Months of COVID-19 Pandemic

by Cecilia Serena Pace, Stefania Muzi, Wanda Morganti and Howard Steele

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(16), 6562; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20166562 - 11 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1491

Abstract

Background: The Friends and Family Interview (FFI) is assumed to be a valid method to study attachment stability and attachment-related psychopathological processes in adolescence, but no studies have yet tested the test–retest reliability of this interview or the longitudinal association of attachment patterns in response to the FFI from adolescents with symptoms such as psychotic-like experiences (e.g., hallucinations, bizarre behavior, dissociation, self-harm) that are known to have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This study involved 102 community adolescents (M = 14.64, SD = 1.63, 46% males) assessed twice: during a severe COVID-19-related lockdown (in Italy) (T1) and four months later (T2). Measures were the FFI (assessing attachment patterns: secure-autonomous, insecure-dismissing, insecure-preoccupied, and insecure-disorganized) and the thought problems scale of the Youth Self-Report to assess psychotic-like symptoms. Results: revealed high stability of four-way attachment classifications over four months (93.5%), with a modest yet significant link between higher disorganization at T1 and higher scores of thought problems at T2, p = 0.010. Conclusions: The FFI shows high test–retest reliability and can be a valid, age-adapted option to assess adolescents’ attachment. Attachment disorganization should be further investigated as possibly related to psychotic-like experiences in community adolescents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Attachment Processes in Adolescence and Adulthood: Contexts and Developmental Trajectories at Risk)

11 pages, 345 KiB

Open AccessArticle

eCONNECT Parent Group: An Online Attachment-Based Intervention to Reduce Attachment Insecurity, Behavioral Problems, and Emotional Dysregulation in Adolescence

by Ilaria Maria Antonietta Benzi, Nicola Carone, Marlene Moretti, Laura Ruglioni, Jacopo Tracchegiani and Lavinia Barone

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3532; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043532 - 17 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2339

Abstract

During adolescence, a secure parent–adolescent relationship promotes youths’ adjustment and psychological well-being. In this scenario, several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of the CONNECT program, a 10-session, attachment-based parenting intervention that helps parents understand and reframe their parent–adolescent interactions, reducing adolescents’ insecure attachment and behavioral problems. Furthermore, recent years have witnessed a significant increase in the implementation of effective online versions of psychological interventions, emphasizing the opportunity for more agile and easier dissemination of evidence-based protocols. Therefore, this study aims to identify changes in adolescents’ attachment insecurity, behavioral problems, and parent–child affect regulation strategies, providing preliminary findings on an online, 10-session, attachment-based parenting intervention (eCONNECT). A total of 24 parents (20 mothers, 4 fathers; M_age = 49.33, SD = 5.32) of adolescents (M_age = 13.83 years, SD = 1.76, 45.8% girls) were assessed on their adolescents’ attachment insecurity (avoidance and anxiety) and behavioral problems (externalizing and internalizing), and on their affect regulation strategies in the parent–child interaction (adaptive reflection, suppression, and affect dysregulation) at three time points: before intervention (t0), after intervention (t1), and at a 2-month follow-up (t2). Mixed-effects regression models highlighted a reduction in adolescents’ internalizing problems (d = 0.11), externalizing problems (d = 0.29), and attachment avoidance (d = 0.26) after the intervention. Moreover, the reduction in externalizing problems and attachment avoidance remained stable at follow-up. Additionally, our findings highlighted a reduction in parent–child affect dysregulation. Results add preliminary evidence on the implementation suitability of an online attachment-based parenting intervention to change at-risk adolescents’ developmental trajectories by reducing attachment insecurity, behavioral problems, and parent–child affect regulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Attachment Processes in Adolescence and Adulthood: Contexts and Developmental Trajectories at Risk)

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26 pages, 532 KiB

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Using Non-Violent Discipline Tools: Evidence Suggesting the Importance of Attunement

by Karen R. Quail and Catherine L. Ward

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(24), 7187; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20247187 - 15 Dec 2023

Viewed by 2821

Abstract

Training in non-violent discipline is important to prevent violence against children and ensure that their caregivers remain a safe base for them. This paper aims to deepen understanding of non-violent discipline by exploring attunement as a mechanism in the effectiveness of non-violent discipline tools. Attunement describes the sensitive responsiveness of caregivers towards their children and has been found to be central to the formation of secure attachment bonds and development of self-regulation. It includes understanding or being “in tune with” the child’s needs and signals, matching these with appropriate responses. The objective of this paper is to explore attunement in relation to non-violent discipline. Peer-reviewed systematic reviews previously included in a systematic overview of evidence on non-violent discipline options were screened for information relevant to attunement. All reviews were published in English between 1999 and 2018 and offered evidence on at least one non-violent discipline tool. Although no reviews explicitly addressed attunement, evidence was found suggesting its importance in the use and effectiveness of discipline methods. Research directly investigating attunement in discipline is needed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Attachment Processes in Adolescence and Adulthood: Contexts and Developmental Trajectories at Risk)

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