Attachment to parents and psychological well-being: an examination of young adult college students in intact families and stepfamilies.
Numerous studies have shown that compared to individuals from intact, biological families, individuals in stepfamilies tend to fare worse emotionally, socially, physically, and psychologically (e.g., Amato & Keith, 1991). Several studies have attempted to account for the discrepancy, but the research has not yielded definitive results. The current study evaluated attachment to parents as a possible explanation for discrepancies in psychological well-being. The results confirmed that attachment was a significant predictor of well-being. Additionally, individuals from stepfamilies were found to have less secure attachment to their parents than individuals from intact, biological families. Consistent with our hypothesis, we found that attachment (operationalized as maternal and paternal care) partially mediated the relationship between family type (intact, biological family vs. stepfamily) and psychological well-being.
Love
Keisha M
KM
Division of Counseling and Educational Psychology, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Education Building Rm. 223, 5100 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA. loveke@umkc.edu
Murdock
Tamera B
TB
D000328:Adult; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires