Peer Power! Secure Peer Attachment Mediates the Effect of Parental Attachment on Depressive Withdrawal of Teenagers

Abstract

Adolescents’ depressive social withdrawal is a relevant concern for mental health professionals, and it is widespread among community teenagers in form of subclinical symptoms. Different studies suggest that insecure attachment representations increase the adolescents’ likelihood to show symptoms of withdrawal (e.g., loneliness). This study explored the effect of the general attachment internal working model (IWM) and the independent and cumulative effects of the specific attachment representations of parents—in terms of secure base/safe haven—and peers on adolescents’ withdrawal. Additionally, the mediation of peer attachment on the effect of parental attachment on symptoms was explored. All analyses were conducted controlling for the difference between teenagers living with parents together or divorced/separated, as children of divorcees are considered more exposed to stressors. Ninety-one adolescents aged 12–17 years old were assessed online during the COVID pandemic period, employing the Youth Self-Report to assess withdrawal and the Friends and Family Interview to assess attachment-general IWM and attachment-specific representations. Results show no influence of parents together/separated or of the general IWM on withdrawal, but higher parent secure base/safe haven and peer attachment cumulatively predicted 10–21% less withdrawal. Moreover, more positive peer attachment mediated 61% of the effect of the parental secure attachment on withdrawal, revealing an indirect effect of parental attachment on withdrawal through peer attachment. In conclusion, both parents and peers are influential on adolescent mental health, and fostering positive peer relationships can buffer the effect of dysfunctional family relationships on teenagers’ withdrawal.

Exploring an Applied Ecological Model of the Effects of Household, School, and Community Environments on Adolescent Mental Health in Japan

“…Household head having low levels of education and equivalent household expenditure were not significantly associated with adolescent mood and anxiety disorders. However, we included them in the model on a theoretical basis because of previous study findings [ 23 , 38 , 39 ].…”

“…Third, the latent variable school and community environment was the summed scores of the three observed variables: family member support, friend support, and teacher support. Friend support and teacher support were not significantly associated with adolescent mood and anxiety disorders, but we included them in the model on a theoretical basis, drawing on results from a previous study [ 23 , 39 ].…”

“…Our model also demonstrated that teacher support does not necessarily affect mood and anxiety disorders in adolescents. Mizuta et al [ 39 ] found that teacher support was associated with depression in grade 9 students, and suggested that students’ psychological development may affect this association. In other words, enhancing teacher support alone may not improve the mental health of adolescents.…”

“…Parental mental illness negatively affects the mental health of adolescents both genetically and environmentally [ 34 ]. Single parenting [ 35 , 36 ], parental attachment [ 39 ] and low SES [ 23 , 37 , 38 ] are also all risk factors for mood and anxiety disorders in adolescence. In a study of adolescents (15–17 years old) in Korea, Lee, and Kwon [ 35 ] demonstrated that adolescents who lived with a single parent or a non-parental guardian were more likely to be depressed than those living with both parents.…”

“…In a study of adolescents (15–17 years old) in Korea, Lee, and Kwon [ 35 ] demonstrated that adolescents who lived with a single parent or a non-parental guardian were more likely to be depressed than those living with both parents. Muzi et al [ 39 ] demonstrated that more positive peer attachment mediated 61% of the effect of the parental secure attachment on withdrawal/depression, revealing an indirect effect of parental attachment on withdrawal through peer attachment. King et al [ 23 ] found that mentally healthy young people were most likely to live with both parents and report their family as being wealthy among a national sample of 21,993 grade 6–10 students in Canada.…”