Abstract

The formation of strong attachment bonds in childhood and adolescence has a significant effect on adult self and other concepts operationalized here as self-esteem and hostility. These self-other conceptualizations are posited to facilitate the formation of successful relationships and well-being in adulthood. To determine whether parental separations before the age of 16 years disrupt attachment bonds and subsequent self-other conceptualizations, participants from three naturally formed parental marital status groups were compared on attachment, self-esteem and hostility: divorced parents (N = 622), married parents (N = 7, 424), or divorced but remarried parents (N = 313). Individuals who had divorced or remarried parents had significantly more insecure parental attachment bonds than those with married parents after controlling for demographics, childhood SES, and parental conflict. Parent marital status did not significantly predict self-esteem or hostility. However, secure attachment did predict higher self-esteem and lower hostility in all groups. Supplementary analyses showed that parental divorce paired with high levels of parental conflict predicted more insecure attachment bond.

LLU Discipline

General Psychology

Department

Psychology

School

School of Science and Technology

First Advisor

Morton, Kelly R.

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Degree Level

M.A.

Year Degree Awarded

January 2010

Date (Title Page)

12-1-2010

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Psychology; Parent-Child Relations; Object Attachment

Type

Thesis

Page Count

64 p.

Digital Format

Application/PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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