1. Introduction Results Conclusions Method
Early Adolescent Psychosocial Predictors of Future Ego-Resiliency Nell Manning, Claire Stephenson, and Joseph P. Allen The University of Virginia
Low Dismissing
Introduction
Measures
Age 13:
Maternal supportive behaviors toward the teen were assessed from an observed supportive behavior interaction task of teens and their mothers. Interactions were videotaped and coded reliably using a validated Supportive Behavior Task Coding System (Allen, Hall, Insabella, Land, Marsh, & Porter, (2001). Global codes were assigned for:
Mother’s engagement, which captures the extent to which the mother appears connected and engaged with the teen during the discussion
Mother’s negativity, which captures the extent to which the mother appears hostile or critical toward the teen
Teen’s satisfaction that reflects the extent to which a teen appears satisfied vs. frustrated with how the interaction went and whether his or her needs were met.
Age 14:
Adolescents’ security of attachment was assessed using the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) and Adult Attachment Q-sort coding system (George et al., 1996; Kobak et al., 1993). A secure state of mind in adolescence is characterized by the ability to present information about attachment relationships in an orderly, internally consistent, and objective manner.
Age 18:
Ego-resiliency was assessed with the Ego-Resiliency Scale (Funder & Block, 1989). Close peers completed the questionnaire describing the target teen at age 18. High scores indicate greater ego-resiliency; low scores indicate greater ego-brittleness.
Similarly, the less negativity a mother exhibits towards her teen at age 13, the more ego-resiliency her teen is likely to display at age 18 (β=-.28, p<.01). Links with observed maternal valuing of or positivity toward teen, and accurate maternal interpretation of teen concerns with future ego-resiliency were also found.
What is Ego-resiliency (ER)?
An individual’s adaptive flexibility, or the ability to change from one’s usual reaction to one more adaptive for a particular situation if necessary (Block & Block, 2006)
Widely validated marker of self-regulation and overall adjustment
High ER has been liked to lower levels of internalizing and externalizing symptoms, higher peer relationship quality, ego development, assertiveness, and intelligence
Important aspects of functioning in early adolescence:
Parental behavior toward teen
For younger children, child maltreatment has been linked to lower ER (Shonk & Cicchetti, 2001).
Relationship between observed parental behavior with teens and future levels of ER has not been examined
State of mind with regard to attachment:
Teens with a secure state of mind with regard to attachment see themselves as independent, exploring, and comfortable in close relations with others, and others are seen as responsive and reliable, if imperfect.
Attachment security has been linked to the development of ego-resiliency in both childhood (Urban, Carlson, & Egeland, 1991) and late adolescence (Kobak & Sceery, 1988)
No research we are aware of examines the relationship of attachment security to ego-resiliency across the range of mid-adolescence
Research questions:
Are observed maternal behaviors toward teens in early adolescence predictive of later adolescent ego-resiliency?
Is security of attachment in early adolescence predictive of ego-resiliency in late adolescence?
Teen’s security of attachment, age 14
.26**
Ego-resiliency, Age 18
Teen gender
R2 = .08*
Family income
The greater a teen’s security of attachment (AAI) at age 14, the more ego-resiliency the teen is likely to display at age 18.
Results
Conclusions
In summary, the current data indicate that:
Observed maternal behaviors toward teens at age 13 predict teen ego-resiliency at age 18. Specifically,
Low maternal hostility and criticism toward teen
High maternal engagement with teen in supportive interactions, and
High teen satisfaction that his or her needs were met in the interaction
are all predictive of higher levels of ego-resiliency for the teen at age 18.
Higher levels of teen security of attachment at age 14 are predictive of ego-resiliency at age 18.
These findings are consistent with earlier research conducted in childhood and late adolescence but extend it by establishing links between these factors and ego-resiliency across the critical period of mid-adolescence.
Copies of this poster & related research will be available at:
Mom’s engagement with teen, age 13
.29**
Ego-resiliency, Age 18
Teen gender
R2 = .09*
Family income
The more engaged a teen’s mother is while interacting with her teen at 13, the more ego-resiliency the teen is likely to display at age 18.
Method
Participants
184 target adolescents and their mothers were observed at Time 1 (age 13). Those same adolescents were interviewed one year later (age 14) to assess attachment orientation, and then 4 years after that (age 18) completed a measure of ER.
Target adolescent demographics:
97 females and 87 males
Socio-economically diverse (median family income= $40-60,000/yr)
27% African American; 63% Caucasian; 10% mixed- or other-race/ethnicity
Teen’s satisfaction with interaction, age 13
.34***
Ego-resiliency, Age 18
Teen gender
R2 = .12**
Family income
The more a teen appears satisfied that his/her needs were met while interacting with mother at age 13, the more ego-resiliency the teen is likely to display at age 18.
We would like to thank the National Institute of Mental Health for funding awarded to Joseph P. Allen, Principal Investigator, (Grant #R01-MH44934) to conduct and write-up this project.