1. Portrait of the Secure Teen as a Young Adult: Predictions from Attachment to Family, Peer, and Romantic Relationship Functioning Joseph P. Allen University of Virginia Collaborators: Maryfrances Porter, Ph.D. Penny Marsh Kathleen McElhaney, Ph.D. F. Christy McFarland Jessica Meyer, Ph.D. Amanda Hare Farah Williams Dave Szwedo Katie Little Meredyth Evans Jill Antonishak, Ph.D. Katy Higgins Claire Stephenson Mindy Schmidt, Ph.D. Glenda Insabella, Ph.D. Megan Schad Joanna Chango Erin Miga Copies of this and related papers are available at: WWW.TEENRESEARCH.ORG

2. Understanding the Meaning of Attachment Beyond Infancy Long-term Correlates of Adolescent Attachment Security Long-term Correlates of Adolescent Attachment Security Romantic Relationships Romantic Relationships Peer Relationships Peer Relationships Job Competence Job Competence Problem Behaviors Problem Behaviors Sleeper Effects/Reverse Sleeper Effects Sleeper Effects/Reverse Sleeper Effects Are Correlates Always Positive? Are Correlates Always Positive? Just what is the AAI really capturing in adolescence? Just what is the AAI really capturing in adolescence?

3. 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 10 years ~ 1600). Intensive Interviews and Observations with all parties (Total N over first 10 years ~ 1600). Equal numbers of Males and Females Equal numbers of Males and Females Assessed Annually, Ages 13 to 22 Assessed Annually, Ages 13 to 22 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 (< 1%) Very Low Attrition (< 1%)

4. Understanding the Meaning of Attachment Beyond Infancy Long-term Correlates of Adolescent Attachment Security Long-term Correlates of Adolescent Attachment Security Romantic Relationships Romantic Relationships Peer Relationships Peer Relationships Job Competence Job Competence Problem Behaviors Problem Behaviors Sleeper Effects/Reverse Sleeper Effects Sleeper Effects/Reverse Sleeper Effects Are Correlates Always Positive? Are Correlates Always Positive? Just what is the AAI really capturing in adolescence? Just what is the AAI really capturing in adolescence?

5. Measures: Romantic Relationship Qualities Currently in an Exclusive Relationship – Self-reported Discomfort with Intimacy and Sexuality (reverse-coded) Behavioral Systems Questionnaire (Furman &Wehner,, 1994) Sexually active in past year – Self-reported

6. Attachment Security (AAI) Exclusive relationship Age 14 Age 21.25** Predicting Romantic Relationship Qualities Adolescent Security Predicts Future Romantic Behavior Comfort w/ Intimacy Sexually Active.29**.24** Gender Income

7. Measures: Peer and Parent Relationship Quality Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (Armsden & Greenberg, 1989) A measure of relationship quality more than of attachment Modified to allow others to report about our target adolescent. Quality of Relationship with Peers – Peer-reported (close-friend report) Quality of Relationship with Mother & Father Parental-report

8. Attachment Security (AAI) Quality of Relshipw/ Peers Age 14 Age 18.28*** Predicting Peer & Parent Relationship Quality Quality of Relshipw/ Mother Quality of Relshipw/F ather.29***.21* Gender Income Adolescent Security Robustly Predicts Future Relationship Quality

9. Measures: Career/Financial Competence Job Competence – Self-Perception Profile for Young Adults (Harter, 1988) Peer-reported (close-friend report) Financial Dependence Degree to which young adult is financially self-sufficient vs. dependent on parents.

10. Attachment Security (AAI) Job Competence (18) Age 14 Age 18-22.28*** Predicting Career/Financial Competence Financial Dependence on Parents (22) -.22** Gender Income Adolescent Security Robustly Predicts Career/Financial Competence

11. Measures: Violent Behavior Violent Criminal Behavior – Youth Self-report (Elliott &Ageteon, 1989) Number of reported violent acts in prior six months.

12. Attachment Security (AAI) Violent Crim. Beh. Age 14 Age 18 -.25** Predicting Violent Behavior Adolescent Security Predicts Lower Levels of Future Violent Behavior Gender Income

13. Summary (so far): Security in Adolescence (age 14) linked to wide array of outcomes: Security in Adolescence (age 14) linked to wide array of outcomes: Parent, Peer, and Romantic Relationships Parent, Peer, and Romantic Relationships Financial/career Competence Financial/career Competence Violent Behavior Violent Behavior

14. Understanding the Meaning of Attachment Beyond Infancy Long-term Correlates of Adolescent Attachment Security Long-term Correlates of Adolescent Attachment Security Romantic Relationships Romantic Relationships Peer Relationships Peer Relationships Job Competence Job Competence Problem Behaviors Problem Behaviors Sleeper Effects/Reverse Sleeper Effects Sleeper Effects/Reverse Sleeper Effects Are Correlates Always Positive? Are Correlates Always Positive? Just what is the AAI really capturing in adolescence? Just what is the AAI really capturing in adolescence?

15. Attachment & Development: Sleeper and Reverse-Sleeper Effects Working Hypothesis: Working Hypothesis: Links to security can help us learn about developmental salience of behaviors. Help identify behaviors that are most salient at a given stage. Help identify behaviors that are most salient at a given stage. Some behaviors won’t be ‘ripe’ at certain ages and won’t be linked to security at those ages Some behaviors won’t be ‘ripe’ at certain ages and won’t be linked to security at those ages

16. Age 20 Financially Dependent -.05 Attachment Security (AAI) Age 14 Financial Independence Coming Online The link between prior security and financial independence from parents only emerges at age 21 Age 18 Financially Dependent -.01 Financially Dependent Age 21 -.21* Gender Income

17. Age 20 Sex in Past Year.03 Attachment Security (AAI) Age 14 Sexual Intercourse in Past Year Age 19 Sex in Past Year -.02 Sex in Past Year Age 21.26** The link between security and sexual intercourse only appears at age 21 Gender Income

18. Age 19 Violent Behavior -.03 Attachment Security (AAI) Age 14 Violent Criminal Behavior in Past Year The Negative Relation Between Security and Violence Fades Over Time Age 18 Violent Behavior -.26** Violent Behavior Age 20 -.09 Gender Income

19. Summary (Part 2) Security is closely and developmentally linked to very wide array of behaviors Security is closely and developmentally linked to very wide array of behaviors These broad linkages raise basic questions about the meaning of security in adolescence. These broad linkages raise basic questions about the meaning of security in adolescence. Is the AAI capturing attachment vs. a broader capacity for social functioning (i.e., emotion regulation in social interactions)? Is the AAI capturing attachment vs. a broader capacity for social functioning (i.e., emotion regulation in social interactions)?

20. Summary (Part 2) Is the AAI capturing attachment vs. a broader capacity for social functioning (i.e., emotion regulation in social interactions). Is the AAI capturing attachment vs. a broader capacity for social functioning (i.e., emotion regulation in social interactions). Evidence from AAI Scoring Evidence from AAI Scoring Coherence vs. Content of models or relationships Coherence vs. Content of models or relationships Evidence from AAI correlates: Evidence from AAI correlates:

21. Attachment Security (AAI) Obs’d Peer Engagement Age 14 Age 13-17.43*** Social Correlates Within Adolescence (Simple Correlations) Social Self- Efficacy Sociometric Popularity.27***.39***

22. Attachment Security (AAI) Obs’d Peer Engagement Age 14 Age 13-17.31*** Social Correlates Within Adolescence (Regression Weights) Security is tightly linked to social functioning (even outside of an attachment context) Social Self- Efficacy Sociometric Popularity.16*.27*** Multiple R =.54***

23. Understanding the Meaning of Attachment Beyond Infancy Long-term Correlates of Adolescent Attachment Security Long-term Correlates of Adolescent Attachment Security Romantic Relationships Romantic Relationships Peer Relationships Peer Relationships Job Competence Job Competence Problem Behaviors Problem Behaviors Sleeper Effects/Reverse Sleeper Effects Sleeper Effects/Reverse Sleeper Effects Are Correlates Always Positive? Are Correlates Always Positive? Just what is the AAI really capturing in adolescence? Just what is the AAI really capturing in adolescence?

24. Percentage of Youths Recently Using Alcohol/Marijuana Popularity at 13 Predicts Long-term increased Alcohol/Marijuana Use. (Allen et al., (2005). Child Development)

25. Attachment Security (AAI) Binge Drinking Age 14 Age 21.19* Predicting Binge Drinking Adolescent Security also predicts long-term drinking problems. Gender Income

26. Understanding the Meaning of Attachment Beyond Infancy Long-term Correlates of Adolescent Attachment Security Long-term Correlates of Adolescent Attachment Security Romantic Relationships Romantic Relationships Peer Relationships Peer Relationships Job Competence Job Competence Problem Behaviors Problem Behaviors Sleeper Effects/Reverse Sleeper Effects Sleeper Effects/Reverse Sleeper Effects Are Correlates Always Positive? Are Correlates Always Positive? Just what is the AAI really capturing in adolescence? Just what is the AAI really capturing in adolescence?

27. The Meaning of Security/Autonomy in Adolescence Key Question: Key Question: Is AAI security more than just a marker of social competence in adolescence? Is AAI security more than just a marker of social competence in adolescence? What does it predict after removing effects of broader social competence? What does it predict after removing effects of broader social competence?

28. Long-term Predictions from Adolescent Attachment Security Outcomeβ Covarying Demographics only β Also Covarying Adolescent markers of Social Competence Exclusive Relationship (21) Comfort w/ Intimacy (21) Sexually Active (21) QualityRelshp. with Peers (18) QualityRelshp. with Mother (18) QualityRelshp. With Father (18)

29. Long-term Predictions from Adolescent Attachment Security Outcomeβ Covarying Demographics only β Also Covarying Adolescent markers of Social Competence Exclusive Relationship (21).25**.16 Comfort w/ Intimacy (21).29**.17+ Sexually Active (21) QualityRelshp. with Peers (18) QualityRelshp. with Mother (18) QualityRelshp. With Father (18) Over and above teen social competence: Security is NOT linked to general dating behavior or affect.

30. Long-term Predictions from Adolescent Attachment Security Outcomeβ Covarying Demographics only β Also covarying Adolescent markers of Social Competence Exclusive Relationship (21).25**.16 Comfort w/ Intimacy (21).29**.17+ Sexually Active (21).24**.19* QualityRelshp. with Peers (18) QualityRelshp. with Mother (18) QualityRelshp. With Father (18) Over and above teen social competence: Security IS linked to sexual activity.

31. Long-term Predictions from Adolescent Attachment Security Outcomeβ Covarying Demographics only β Also covarying Adolescent markers of Social Competence Exclusive Relationship (21).25**.16 Comfort w/ Intimacy (21).29**.17+ Sexually Active (21).24**.19* QualityRelshp. with Peers (18).28***-.10 QualityRelshp. with Mother (18) QualityRelshp. With Father (18) Over and above teen social competence: Security is NOT linked to Quality of Peer Relationships

32. Long-term Predictions from Adolescent Attachment Security Outcomeβ Covarying Demographics only β Also covarying Adolescent markers of Social Competence Exclusive Relationship (21).25**.16 Comfort w/ Intimacy (21).29**.17+ Sexually Active (21).24**.19* QualityRelshp. with Peers (18).28***-.10 QualityRelshp. with Mother (18).29***.33** QualityRelshp. With Father (18).21*.26* Over and above teen social competence: Security IS linked to Ongoing Parental Relationships.

33. Long-term Predictions from Adolescent Attachment Security Outcomeβcovarying demographics only β also covarying adolescent markers of social competence Job Competence (21).29***.19+ Financial Independence (21).22**.10 Binge Drinking (21) -.19*.16+ Violent Crim. Beh. (18) Over and above teen social competence: Security is NOT linked to Career Behaviors or Binge Drinking

34. Long-term Predictions from Adolescent Attachment Security Outcomeβcovarying demographics only β also covarying adolescent markers of social competence Job Competence (21).29***.19+ Financial Independence (21) -.22**-.10 Binge Drinking (21).19*.16+ Violent Crim. Beh. (18) -.25**-.31** Over and above teen social competence: Security IS related to Violent Criminal Behavior.

35. Two-Roles for AAI Security A Marker of Broad Social Adaptation A Marker of Broad Social Adaptation

36. Security as Part of a Social Cascade Attachment Security Attachment to Peers Exclusive Dating Relationship Financial Independence.30***.28**.23** Age 14Age 18Age 20Age 21

37. Two-Roles for AAI Security A Marker of Broad Social Adaptation A Marker of Broad Social Adaptation Direct Long-term Links to Particularly Affectively Intense Experiences Direct Long-term Links to Particularly Affectively Intense Experiences

38. Security as Direct Predictor of Quality of Parental Relationships Attachment Security Rel. w/ Mother.33*** Age 14Age 18 Social Competence.54***

39. Limitations Non-experimental nature of data Non-experimental nature of data Reliance on self-report for many measures Reliance on self-report for many measures NOT following teens all the way into adulthood (yet). NOT following teens all the way into adulthood (yet).

40. Conclusions Attachment Security/Autonomy at Age 14 as a Remarkably Broad Predictor of Young Adult: Attachment Security/Autonomy at Age 14 as a Remarkably Broad Predictor of Young Adult: Relationship Competence Relationship Competence Financial/Career Competence Financial/Career Competence Problematic Behaviors Problematic Behaviors Tight Linkage to Developmental Progression of Competencies Tight Linkage to Developmental Progression of Competencies And in some cases to developmentally-linked problems (e.g., drinking) And in some cases to developmentally-linked problems (e.g., drinking) Copies of this and related papers are available at: www.TeenResearch.org

41. Conclusions Can Adolescent Security be viewed as primarily a marker of Social Competence? Can Adolescent Security be viewed as primarily a marker of Social Competence? Perhaps, for Broad Social Behaviors Perhaps, for Broad Social Behaviors Peer relationships & Job competence Peer relationships & Job competence Probably Not, for understanding affectively intense behaviors Probably Not, for understanding affectively intense behaviors Sex, violence & relationships with parents Sex, violence & relationships with parents Copies of this and related papers are available at: www.TeenResearch.org