The coherence of dyadic behavior across parent–child and romantic relationships as mediated by the internalized representation of experience

Abstract

Attachment theory suggests, first, that patterns of dyadic behavior cohere across salient relationships and, second, that such linkages are mediated by working models, defined as cognitive/emotional representations of relationships abstracted from dyadic experience. In this longitudinal study, adolescents' (age 19) Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) coherence ratings and classifications (e.g. working model proxies) were related prospectively to their observed dyadic behaviors with romantic partners in young adulthood (age 20-21). Results demonstrated significant associations between adolescents' representations of their relationships with parents and the later quality of their interactions with romantic partners. Next, a model was tested whereby participants' working models, as inferred from the AAI, mediate the across-time correlation between a subset of observationallv assessed parent-child dyadic behaviors (age 13) and the romantic relationship behaviors of these participants eight years later in young adulthood (age 20-21). Results of mediational analyses were consistent with the fundamental tenet of the organizational-developmental model that salient parent-child experiences are internalized and carried forward into adult relationships.

Adolescent Marital Expectations and Romantic Experiences: Associations With Perceptions About Parental Conflict and Adolescent Attachment Security

“…Although previous research has suggested that adolescents' attachment security with parents may guide their expectations for romantic relationships over time (e.g., Roisman et al, 2001), this research does not speak to the mechanisms by which insecurity may be related to particular maladaptive romantic schemas or behaviors. Furthermore, findings from attachment research often fall prey to the criticism that "all good things go together," because they do not identify the conditions under which specific aspects of attachment security are associated with different outcomes (Waters and Dean, 1985).…”

Attachment and Autonomy During Adolescence

“…One recent study also found security of attachment to be linked to high levels of maternal sensitivity, as measured by how well mothers were able to predict the ways that their teens would respond to a questionnaire about their own competence (Allen et al, 2003 ). Secure states of mind are also associated with warmer, more accepting, open, and engaged interactions with parents as observed from interactions and as reported by adolescents (Becker -Stoll, Delius, & Scheitenberger, 2001 ;Ducharme, Doyle, & Markiewicz, 2002 ;Roisman, Madsen, Hennighausen, Sroufe, & Collins, 2001 ).…”

“…Interestingly, research also suggests that younger teens with self -reported secure attachment styles report turning to romantic partners less often than mothers to fulfill attachment functions, which the authors consider to be a developmentally appropriate pattern for this age group (Markiewicz et al, 2006 ). In late adolescence, secure states of mind have also been linked to the subsequent quality of interactions with a romantic partner; such interactions are characterized by willingness to express ideas, ability to resolve conflict, and mutual caring and pleasure in the other person (Roisman et al, 2001 ;. Further, research with young adults indicates that security of attachment is linked to healthier sexual behavior: Securely attached young women are more likely to require some emotional commitment from partners before engaging in sex and are also likely to have somewhat less permissive attitudes toward sexuality (Januszewski, Turner, Guerin, & Flack, 1996 ).…”

Influence of family of origin and adult romantic partners on romantic attachment security.

“…For example, Bouthillier et al (2002) used the AAI to assess "state of mind with respect to attachment" (Main et al, 1985) to mother and found that individuals who were categorized by the AAI as insecure were more likely to use destructive tactics during a conflictual interaction with a romantic partner. In addition, individuals categorized as insecure in the AAI exhibited more negative emotion during conflictual interactions (i.e., more expressions of contempt, withdrawal, and stonewalling) and less positive emotion (e.g., Babcock et al, 2000;Creasey & Ladd, 2005;Roisman et al, 2005;Roisman et al, 2001). Because attachment security as assessed by the AAI likely derives to a significant degree from the quality of the parent-child relationship in terms of behavioral interactions, these findings offer indirect support for the proposition that this relationship will affect the behavioral quality of later romantic unions.…”