What is the AAI Really Capturing? Long-term Links With Emotion Regulation, Peer and Parent Relations, & Psychological Functioning Joe Allen Nell Manning University of Virginia Copies of related papers are available at: Collaborators: Maryfrances Porter, Ph.D. Kathleen McElhaney, Ph.D. F. Christy McFarland, Ph.D. Megan Schad Ann Spilker Farah Williams, Ph.D. David Szwedo Jill Antonishak, Ph.D. Joanna Chango Caroline White Elie Hessel Emily Marston, Ph.D. Glenda Insabella, Ph.D. Erin Miga, Ph.D. Amanda Hare, Ph.D.

Overarching Question Just what is the AAI actually measuring? Just what is the AAI actually measuring? A thought experiment A thought experiment

Key Premises The AAI is NOT primarily capturing: The AAI is NOT primarily capturing: Qualities of past attachment relationships Qualities of past attachment relationships Memories of past relationships (working models) Memories of past relationships (working models) Qualities of current attachment relationships Qualities of current attachment relationships The Strongest Validity data with the AAI shows that it predicts Caregiving behavior (with infant offspring), not attachment behavior. The Strongest Validity data with the AAI shows that it predicts Caregiving behavior (with infant offspring), not attachment behavior.

Overarching Question Just what is the AAI actually capturing? Just what is the AAI actually capturing? The Case for Emotion Regulation Capacities The Case for Emotion Regulation Capacities The AAI is coded to capture: The AAI is coded to capture: Coherence in dealing with emotions generated in recalling attachment experiences. Coherence in dealing with emotions generated in recalling attachment experiences. Autonomy in thinking about emotionally-charged experiences. Autonomy in thinking about emotionally-charged experiences. Valuing of attachment: acknowledgement of attachment- related emotions. Valuing of attachment: acknowledgement of attachment- related emotions. These seem like key aspects of social-emotion regulation. These seem like key aspects of social-emotion regulation.

Infant Strange- Situation Emotion Regulation in Adolescent- Parent Interactions Emotion Regulation in Adolescent- Peer Interactions Tightest Focus on Attachment- Specific Behavior Broadest Focus on Emotion Regulation Regulated, Security- Producing Caregiving Least Correlated with AAI Most Correlated with AAI Attachment Measures on the Emotion Regulation Continuum How correlated are these measures with the AAI? The AAI is most strongly correlated with measures of Emotion Regulation and least strongly with more direct measures of attachment.

Primary Questions 1. To what extent is AAI-Security/Autonomy linked to measures of Emotion Regulation? 2. How does the AAI compare to measures of Emotion Regulation in predicting: Qualities of Social Relationships Depressive Symptoms Career Satisfaction and Life Success in Young Adulthood 3. Can developmental changes help us understand the Security/Emotion Regulation connection?

Sample 184 Adolescents, their Parents, Best Friends, and Other Friends 184 Adolescents, their Parents, Best Friends, and Other Friends Intensive Interviews and Observations with all parties (Total N over first 12 years ~ 1700). Intensive Interviews and Observations with all parties (Total N over first 12 years ~ 1700). Equal numbers of Males and Females Equal numbers of Males and Females Socio-economically Diverse (Median Family Income= $40- $60K) Socio-economically Diverse (Median Family Income= $40- $60K) 31% African American; 69% European American 31% African American; 69% European American Very Low Attrition (98% participation rate in current phase) Very Low Attrition (98% participation rate in current phase)

Attachment Security/Autonomy Coded from Adult Attachment Interview Administered at age Coded using Kobak Q-sort Prior research shows good correspondence of security meta- scale to formal AAI classifications. Emphasis on Coherence Emphasis on being “Autonomous, Yet Valuing of Attachment”

Broad Emotion Regulation Emotion Regulation = Resilience in handling emotions + Paying Attention to Them Peer-rated Ego Resiliency Scale (Block & Kremen, 1996) (14 items) …gets over his anger at someone reasonably quickly …is more curious than most people Attention to Emotions from Trait Meta Mood Scale (Salovey et al., 1994) (14 items) I often think about my feelings (-) It is usually a waste of time to think about your emotions

Emotion Regulation Measures: Mood Repair Mood Repair from Trait Meta Mood Scale (Salovey et al., 1994) No matter how badly I feel, I try to think about pleasant things (-)When I am upset, I realize that “the good things in life” are illusions.

AAI Security (15) Security and Emotion Regulation Simple Intercorrelations Emotion Regulation (15-18) Mood Repair (15-17).31***.27***.39***

Popularity Sociometric Procedure: Sociometric Procedure: Peers nominate others Peers nominate others “Who would you most like to spend time with on a Saturday evening.” 10 names For our target teens, we count how many times they were listed on someone’s “like” list as a marker of popularity. For our target teens, we count how many times they were listed on someone’s “like” list as a marker of popularity. Each teen rated by other teens in the same grade in school (approximately 125 raters for each teen). Each teen rated by other teens in the same grade in school (approximately 125 raters for each teen). 1 year test-retest stability r =.77 1 year test-retest stability r =.77

AAI Security Popularity.31*** Links to Popularity at 13 (Correlations) Emotion Regulation.29*** Mood Repair.19*** Ages 15-18

AAI Security Popularity.16* Links to Popularity at 13 (Regression) Gender & Income Emotion Regulation.21** Mood Repair.04 R 2 =.22***; Multiple R =.47*** At Age 13: AAI Security and Emotion Regulation both Predict Popularity Ages 15-18

Predicting Popularity Over Time Increasing Relation of AAI-Security to Popularity Over Time Decreasing Relation of Emotion Regulation to Popularity Over Time

Summary: Predicting Popularity A Developmental Pattern A Developmental Pattern AAI & Emotion Regulation start out as equal predictors AAI & Emotion Regulation start out as equal predictors Over Time: Over Time: AAI Security grows stronger as a predictor AAI Security grows stronger as a predictor Emotion Regulation grows weaker Emotion Regulation grows weaker Parallels increasing intensity of adolescent peer relationships. Parallels increasing intensity of adolescent peer relationships.

Autonomy & Relatedness in Romantic Partner Interactions Coded from 8-minute interaction with romantic partner of at least 3 months duration Coded from 8-minute interaction with romantic partner of at least 3 months duration Age 18: Hypothetical court ‘Dating Court’ (N=66) Age 18: Hypothetical court ‘Dating Court’ (N=66) E.g., James … has Saturday night off and his friends are planning a “boys night out” … Leslie thinks James should spend his night off with her… Age 21: Actual previously-identified disagreement (N=66) Age 21: Actual previously-identified disagreement (N=66)

AAI Security Autonomy.44*** Predicting Observed Autonomy in Romantic Disagreement Emotion Regulation -.10 Mood Repair.12 Gender & Income R 2 =.20***; Multiple R =.45*** At 18: AAI – Security Best Predicts Autonomy while Disagreeing Ages 15-18Age 18

AAI Security Connection (Age 18).17 Predicting Observed Connection in Romantic Disagreement Emotion Regulation.47*** Mood Repair.00 Gender & Income R 2 =.30***; Multiple R =.55*** At 18: Emotion Regulation Best Predicts Connection while Disagreeing Ages 15-18Age 18

AAI Security Autonomy.35*** Predicting Observed Autonomy & Connection in Romantic Disagreement Emotion Regulation -.05 Mood Repair -.10 Gender & Income R 2 =.10***; Multiple R =.32*** At 21: AAI – Security best predicts both Autonomy … And… Ages 15-18Age 21

AAI Security Connection.24* Predicting Observed Connection in Romantic Disagreement Emotion Regulation.00 Mood Repair.14 Gender & Income At 21: AAI Security also predicts Connection while Disagreeing Ages 15-18Age 21

Summary: Predicting Romantic Relationship Quality AAI Security/Autonomy was always the best predictor of Autonomous Behaviors in Disagreements AAI Security/Autonomy was always the best predictor of Autonomous Behaviors in Disagreements A Developmental Pattern with Connecting Behaviors A Developmental Pattern with Connecting Behaviors At 18, Emotion regulation was the strongest predictor At 18, Emotion regulation was the strongest predictor By 21, AAI Security was the strongest predictor By 21, AAI Security was the strongest predictor AAI Security may become more broadly relevant as relationships take on more attachment functions. AAI Security may become more broadly relevant as relationships take on more attachment functions.

Depressive Symptoms Childhood Depression Inventory (Kovacs & Beck, 1977)27- item inventory based on the Beck Depression Inventory Childhood Depression Inventory (Kovacs & Beck, 1977)27- item inventory based on the Beck Depression Inventory

AAI Security Depressive Symptoms -.25*** Predicting Depressive Symptoms at 13 (Correlations) Emotion Regulation -.21** Mood Repair -.21** Ages 15-18

AAI Security Depressive Symptoms.-18* Predicting Depressive Symptoms at 13 (Regression) Emotion Regulation -.12 Mood Repair.14 + Gender & Income R 2 =.11***; Multiple R =.34*** AAI – Security/Autonomy is best overall predictor of Depressive Symptoms at 13 Ages 15-18

Strength of Relationship of Insecurity and Poor Mood Repair to Depressive Symptoms Over Time Increasing Relation of Mood Repair to Depressive Symptoms Over Time Decreasing Relation of AAI Security to Depressive Symptoms Over Time

Summary: Predicting Depression A Developmental Pattern: A Developmental Pattern: Both AAI Security and Mood Repair start out strongly related to depressive symptoms at age 13 Both AAI Security and Mood Repair start out strongly related to depressive symptoms at age 13 Over time, AAI Security fades as a predictor and Mood Repair becomes more important Over time, AAI Security fades as a predictor and Mood Repair becomes more important Managing Negative Affect may be linked to attachment in early adolescence (when parents are still key), Managing Negative Affect may be linked to attachment in early adolescence (when parents are still key), But becomes more related to internalized mood repair strategies as adolescence progresses But becomes more related to internalized mood repair strategies as adolescence progresses

Career Satisfaction at Age 24 5-item measure of satisfaction with progress toward meeting career goals (Greenhaus, Parasuraman, & Wormley, 1990)

AAI Security Career Satisfaction.17* Predicting Career Satisfaction at 24 (Simple Correlations) Emotion Regulation.20** Mood Repair.17* All measures are predictive of future Career Satisfaction Ages Age 24

AAI Security Career Satisfaction.05 Emotion Regulation.18* Mood Repair -.04 Predicting Career Satisfaction at 24 (Regression) Gender & Income R 2 =.11**; Multiple R =.33** Emotion Regulation fares best in multiple regression Ages Age 24

Overall Successful Adjustment at 23 (Parent-rated) Combination of Scales from Young Adult Adjustment Scale (Capaldi & King, 1992). Including items sampling: Positive Peer Relations Academic/Professional Ambition Happiness Prosocial Behavior Overall success

AAI Security Overall Success.20* Predicting Parent-rated Success at 23 (Correlations) Emotion Regulation.23** Mood Repair.17* Gender & Income R 2 =.11**; Multiple R =.33** All measures are predictive of future Overall Success Ages Age 23

AAI Security Overall Success.10 Predicting Parent-rated Success at 23 (Regression) Emotion Regulation.24** Mood Repair.01 Gender & Income R 2 =.22***; Multiple R =.11** Emotion Regulation fares best in multiple regression Ages Age 23

Summary: Predicting Broad Young Adult Functional Outcomes Beyond close relationship functioning: Beyond close relationship functioning: Emotion Regulation and AAI Security Overlap in their Predictions Emotion Regulation and AAI Security Overlap in their Predictions Emotion Regulation capacities appear as the best overall predictor of broad functional outcomes Emotion Regulation capacities appear as the best overall predictor of broad functional outcomes

Limitations Multiple measures of Emotion Regulation Processes Exist – Only 2 were examined Multiple measures of Emotion Regulation Processes Exist – Only 2 were examined Analyses assume that AAI Security and Emotion Processes were stable over time Analyses assume that AAI Security and Emotion Processes were stable over time (Likely for AAI, less clear for Emotion Regulation) (Likely for AAI, less clear for Emotion Regulation) We’re addressing the AAI – Emotion Regulation question in only one, quite unique, developmental span (ages 14-24). We’re addressing the AAI – Emotion Regulation question in only one, quite unique, developmental span (ages 14-24). Copies of this and related papers are available at:

Conclusions AAI Security is clearly closely linked to Emotion Regulation and Mood Repair AAI Security is clearly closely linked to Emotion Regulation and Mood Repair Substantial Intercorrelations Substantial Intercorrelations Many similar predictions/correlates Many similar predictions/correlates These predictions are often overlapping These predictions are often overlapping Evidence that AAI Security is capturing same variance as Emotion Regulation processes Evidence that AAI Security is capturing same variance as Emotion Regulation processes But these constructs are not identical… But these constructs are not identical… Copies of this and related papers are available at:

Conclusions Clear Domains where AAI Security predicts things that traditional Emotion Regulation measures do not (e.g., more intense relationships) and vice versa Clear Domains where AAI Security predicts things that traditional Emotion Regulation measures do not (e.g., more intense relationships) and vice versa Two Possible Explanations: Two Possible Explanations: AAI Security may capture an aspect of Emotion Regulation linked to social relations AAI Security may capture an aspect of Emotion Regulation linked to social relations AAI may be capturing something different (a quality of working models? Perspective-taking capacity?) AAI may be capturing something different (a quality of working models? Perspective-taking capacity?) Copies of this and related papers are available at:

Conclusions AAI Security: AAI Security: Not just the attachment system grown up… Not just the attachment system grown up…

Conclusions AAI Security: AAI Security: Not just the attachment system grown up… Not just the attachment system grown up… BUT what the attachment system grows INTO. BUT what the attachment system grows INTO.