Examining the Relationship between Attachment Styles and Resilience Levels among Aboriginal Adolescents in Canada

Abstract

The history of colonization in Canada has a traumatic intergenerational impact on young Aboriginal people's health, which is evidenced by the wide health disparities (Adelson, 2005; Health Council of Canada, 2012). However, extant research shows that, through resilience, many Aboriginal adolescents overcome adverse situations and develop into healthy adults (Andersson & Ledogar, 2008). Knowledge of the ways and extent to which Aboriginal youth seek support to cope with stressful events may be improved by examining the distribution of attachment styles and their relationship with resilience. The data (n = 136) used for this study were obtained from the British Columbia Adolescent Substance Use Survey. Findings indicate resiliency was significantly associated with attachment style (p < .01). The study findings provide support for tailoring resilience mental health promotion and intervention resources according to attachment style to foster long-term engagement in programming that helps Aboriginal youth live a healthy and holistically balanced life.

A Conceptual Model of Protective Factors Within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture That Build Strength

“…This can be a major contributing factor in the translation of intergenerational trauma through the generations, and as such, is critical for renewal (Isobel et al, 2019). Research has emphasized the importance of having a strong family connection or secure attachment with caregivers to strengthen cultural attachment (Krakouer et al, 2018) and resilience (Redman-MacLaren et al, 2017; Sam et al, 2015). Ultimately, poor cultural attachment can potentially lead to the absence of connection to culture, which can be harmful to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s identity development and resilience (Renshaw, 2019).…”

Spiritual, Religious, and Faith-Based Practices in Chronicity

“…Living with diabetes predisposes people to higher risk of psychological conditions like depression and excessive stress, both of which already disproportionately affect those living in poverty (Sam, Ghosh, and Richardson 2015;. Depression has been linked to long-term chronic diseases such as T2DM in studies in other countries (Darvyri et al 2018;Heidari et al 2017).…”

An Investigation of the Factors Related to Low Parent–Adolescent Attachment Security in Taiwan

“…Some studies have indicated that adolescents with low parental attachment security exhibit lower self-esteem, more problem avoidance, more ineffectual anger, and more internalized symptoms (Allen, Moore, Kuperminc, & Bell, 1998). By contrast, adolescents with high attachment security display better emotional adjustment (Engels, Finkenauer, Meeus, & Dekovic, 2001), lower levels of loneliness (Kerns & Stevens, 1996), better self-resilience (Sam, Ghosh, & Richardson, 2015), less drug abuse (Cooper, Shaver, & Collins, 1998), and fewer mental health problems (including depression and behavioral problems; Rawatlal et al, 2015).…”