title: The Role of Attachment Style in Predicting Repetition of Adolescent Self-Harm: A Longitudinal Study.
abstract: This study investigated whether insecure attachment is associated with poorer outcomes at 6-month follow-up in adolescents who self-harm. At baseline the Child Attachment Interview was administered to 52 adolescents (13-17 years) referred to specialist child and adolescent mental health services and with a recent history of self-harm. Participants also completed self-report measures of self-harm, peer attachment, anxiety, and depression and were administered the means end problem-solving task. Self-harm behavior and problem-solving skills were assessed again at 6-month follow-up. At baseline, 14 (27%) were securely attached to their mothers. In the 49 (94%) adolescents followed-up, those with insecure maternal attachment and insecure peer attachment were more likely to have repeated self-harm. In addition, securely attached adolescents showed greater improvement in problem-solving skills. These findings indicate that secure maternal and peer attachments may help recovery from self-harm, possibly by supporting the acquisition of problem-solving skills, and highlights the importance of social connections and attachments for youth with a history of self-harm.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Glazebrook
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Townsend
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatry and Applied Psychology, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: Kapil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sayal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D009769:Object Attachment; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D000067074:Peer Influence; D011340:Problem Solving; D011580:Psychological Techniques; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D057566:Self Report; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology
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