title: Experiential avoidance mediates the link between maternal attachment style and theory of mind.
abstract: Theoretical and empirical models suggest a relation between attachment style and theory of mind (ToM) in childhood and adulthood; however, this link has not been evaluated to the same extent in adolescence. Additionally, these models typically fail to consider mechanisms by which attachment style affects ToM abilities. The present study sought to test a mediational model in which experiential avoidance mediates the relation between maternal attachment style and ToM. A sample of 282 adolescents (Mage=15.42years, SD=1.44, 62.8% female) was recruited from an inpatient psychiatric hospital. Findings revealed that maternal attachment style in females was related to ToM, through experiential avoidance. Specifically, those with a disorganized maternal attachment were most likely to engage in experiential avoidant cognitive and emotional strategies, which in turn related to lower levels of ToM ability. Implications and areas for future research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Salome
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vanwoerden
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX; The Menninger Clinic, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Allison H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Kalpakci
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX; The Menninger Clinic, Houston, TX. Electronic address: csharp2@central.uh.edu.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sharp
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009769:Object Attachment; D012919:Social Behavior; D012938:Social Perception; D056345:Theory of Mind / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult