1. Predictors of Changing Attachment Security From 14 to 24: Autonomy Struggles, Supportive Behaviors & Parental Marital Quality Joseph P. Allen Joseph S. Tan Leah A. Grande University of Virginia We gratefully acknowledge grant support from NIMH & NICHD ( 2R01HD058305 & R01-MH58066). Copies of related papers are available at: WWW.TEENRESEARCH.ORG Collaborators: Maryfrances Porter, Ph.D. Kathleen McElhaney, Ph.D. Emily Loeb Jessica Kansky Lauren Elreda, Ph.D. Farah Williams, Ph.D. Chris Hafen, Ph.D. Megan Schad Lauren Cannavo Rachel Narr Christy McFarland, Ph.D. Emily Marston, Ph.D. Erin Miga, Ph.D. Amanda Hare, Ph.D. Elie Hessel

2. Predicting Adult Attachment: Why We Care Powerful Links to: Security of Infant Offspring (Caregiving) Psychological Health Marital Relationship Quality Career Satisfaction

3. What Predicts Change In Attachment Security from Adolescence to Adulthood? Developmental Perspective Developmental Perspective Relative Decrease in Role of Parental Support Relative Decrease in Role of Parental Support Developing Adolescent Autonomy & Peer Focus Developing Adolescent Autonomy & Peer Focus Contextual Factors Contextual Factors Income & Gender Income & Gender

4. Preliminary Question Does Attachment Security Actually Change Significantly from Adolescence into Adulthood?

5. Three Types of Links to Security 1. Processes Going Offline Links to security in adolescence but not to future change in security. 2. Processes Coming Online No links to security in adolescence,but predict change in security from adolescence to adulthood. 3. Ongoing Transactional Processes Ongoing links to past and future security. Ongoing links to past and future security. What WAS Important: What’s BECOMING Important: What’s STAYING Important:

6. Sample Adult Attachment Interviews with 175 adolescents interviewed at age 14; Follow-up AAI with 149 at age 24 Adult Attachment Interviews with 175 adolescents interviewed at age 14; Follow-up AAI with 149 at age 24 Intensive Interviews and Observations with Teens, Parents, and Close Friends of Teens Intensive Interviews and Observations with Teens, Parents, and Close Friends of Teens 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

7. Attachment Security Ages 14 and 24 Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) (George, Kaplan, & Main, 1996) 1-hour semi-structured interview 1-hour semi-structured interview Attachment security: Attachment security: Reflects coherence in discourse about episodic and semantic memories of attachment experiences. Reflects coherence in discourse about episodic and semantic memories of attachment experiences. Autonomy/balance in evaluating attachment relationships Autonomy/balance in evaluating attachment relationships While clearly valuing attachment relationships While clearly valuing attachment relationships Reliably coded using Kobak et al., (1993) Q-sort technique Reliably coded using Kobak et al., (1993) Q-sort technique Interrater reliability =.74 -.84 (Thanks to Kristyn Zajac & Stephanie Madsen!) Interrater reliability =.74 -.84 (Thanks to Kristyn Zajac & Stephanie Madsen!)

8. Attachment Security.44*** Stability of Attachment Security from 14 to 24 Age 14 Age 24 Attachment Security BUT…Stability varies significantly across Gender Attachment Security.56*** Attachment Security.28* Attachment Security For Females: For Males:

9. Attachment Security.44*** Demographic Predictors of Attachment Security Age 14 Age 24 Attachment Security Family Income Family Income is Going Offline Developmentally as a Factor Predicting Change in Security.29***.01

10. Attachment Security.44*** Demographic Predictors of Attachment Security Age 14 Age 24 Attachment Security Female Gender Gender is Coming Online Developmentally as a Factor Predicting Change in Security.12.19**.42***

11. Parental Predictors of Attachment Security (Supportive Behavior) Supportive Behavior Task & Coding System (Allen et al., 2001) 8-minute interaction task between parent and teen Teen discusses a problem or question about which they could use help from parent Coded for degree of maternal engagement with the teen in the task Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (reliability) =.81 Collected at Age 13

12. Attachment Security (24).44*** Parental Predictors of Attachment Security (Supportive Behavior) Attachment Security (14) Maternal Supportive Behavior (13) Maternal Supportive Behavior is Going Offline Developmentally as a Factor Predicting Change in Security.23**.14 Adolescence Adulthood

13. Peer Supportive Behavior as a Predictor of Attachment Security Supportive Behavior Task & Coding System (Allen et al., 2001) 8-minute interaction task between teen and closest friend Teen discusses a problem or question about which they could use help from friend Coded for degree of friend’s engagement with the teen in the task Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (reliability) =.79 -.82 Collected at Age 14 and 15

14. Attachment Security (24).34*** Peer Supportive Behavior as a Predictor of Attachment Security Attachment Security (14) Peer Supportive Behavior (15) Peer Supportive Behavior is Both Predicted by Prior Security and Predicts Change in Security – A Transactionally-Linked Factor.19*.25*** Adolescence Adulthood

15. Peer Supportive Behavior as a Predictor of Attachment Security Attachment Security (14) Peer Supportive Behavior (15) A Transactional Process : Attachment Security Also Predicts Relative Change in Peer Supportive Behavior over Time.18* Adolescence Adulthood Peer Supportive Behavior (14).10.27*** Attachment Security (24).34***.25***

16. Parental Predictors of Attachment Security (Marital Conflict) Aggressive Argument Tactics from Conflict Tactics Scale (Straus, 1979; 1988) 5-items (e.g., insults, threats, etc.) Mothers and Fathers both report about themselves and about one another Scores are summed together Cronbach’s α =.85 Collected at adolescent age 13

17. Parental Predictors of Attachment Security (Marital Conflict) Aggressive Argument Tactics from Conflict Tactics Scale (Straus, 1979; 1988) Reduces teens’ confidence that they can form positive relationships outside the family. Reduces their ability to do so.

18. Attachment Security (24).44*** Adolescence Adulthood Attachment Security (14) Marital Conflict (13) Parental Marital Conflict is Coming Online Developmentally as a Factor Predicting Decreases in Security -.14 -.24** Parental Predictors of Attachment Security (Marital Conflict).40***

19. Parental Predictors of Attachment Security (Alcohol Abuse) CA GE (Bush et al., 1987) 5-item, widely used screening test for risk of alcohol abuse (e.g., “Ever been annoyed with others for criticizing your drinking”) Administered to both mothers and fathers; averaged for two-parent families. Collected at Adolescent ages 13 and 16

20. Attachment Security (24).44*** Adolescence Adulthood Attachment Security (14) Parental Alcohol Abuse (13, 16) Parental Alcohol Abuse is Coming Online Developmentally as a Factor Predicting Decreases in Security..01 -.14* Parental Predictors of Attachment Security (Alcohol Abuse).42***

21. Parental Predictors of Attachment Security (Parental Psychological Control) Child Report of Parenting Behavior (Schludermann & Schludermann, 1988) 10-item adolescent-report scale about parents Autonomy-undermining Behaviors (e.g., guilt induction, threats, etc.) Reports obtained regarding both mothers and fathers Collected at both ages 15 and 16 and averaged Cronbach’s α’s across ages and targets =.78 -.85

22. Attachment Security (24).44*** Attachment Security (14) Parental Psychological Control (15-16) Parental Psychological Control is Both Predicted by Prior Security and Predicts Change in Security – A Transactionally-Linked Factor -.30***-.26*** Adolescence Adulthood Parental Predictors of Attachment Security (Parental Psychological Control).33***

23. Attachment Security (Age 14) Attachment Security (Age 24) Maternal Supportive Behavior (Age 13) Hx of Parental Alc. Abuse (Age 13, 16) Parental Marital Discord (Age 13) Parent Psychological Control (Age 15-16) Adolescent Family and Peer Experiences Predicting Attachment Security Over Time Factors Predicting Baseline Security But Not Future Change: Factors Predicting Baseline Security But Not Future Change: Factors Not linked to Baseline Security But Predictive of Future Change: Factors Not linked to Baseline Security But Predictive of Future Change: Factors Linked to BOTH Baseline Security AND Future Change: Peer Supportive Behavior (Age 15). 23** -.15* -. 17*. 44**. 31*** -.30*** -.21**.20** Female Gender.16* Total R 2 (explained variance in) Adult Attachment Security.391*** Total Multiple R =.62*** R 2 change (from social predictors) =.151*** Multiple R for social predictors =.39***

24. Limitations Longitudinal Predictions ≠ Causal Pathways Longitudinal Predictions ≠ Causal Pathways No data on unresolved/CC status No data on unresolved/CC status Modest power to detect small effects Modest power to detect small effects Copies of related papers are available at: www.TeenResearch.org

25. Conclusions The attachment system remains flexible and open to environmental influences… The attachment system remains flexible and open to environmental influences… … not just through childhood but into adulthood. … not just through childhood but into adulthood. Copies of related papers are available at: www.TeenResearch.org

26. Conclusions Parents do still matter Parents do still matter But less as support providers and more as a solid launching pad. But less as support providers and more as a solid launching pad. Copies of related papers are available at: www.TeenResearch.org

27. Conclusions Parents do matter Parents do matter But less as support providers and more as a solid launching pad. But less as support providers and more as a solid launching pad. A crucial role, but NOT one that’s easy for parents! A crucial role, but NOT one that’s easy for parents! Copies of related papers are available at: www.TeenResearch.org