The Mediating Role of Romantic Attachment in the Relationship Between Attachment to Parents and Aggression

Abstract

Background A secure attachment style could promote more intimacy in romantic relationships, while an insecure attachment style could be correlated with less positive romantic relationships in adulthood. Numerous studies have noted that a secure attachment to parents was correlated with lower levels of aggression, whereas insecure attachments were associated with higher levels of aggression. We aimed to investigate the role of the attachment system as a mediator of the expression of aggressiveness during adolescence. Specifically, we considered that the attachment to parents and peers could influence one’s attachment to a romantic partner. Methods We empirically tested whether there were relationships of parent and peer attachment on aggressiveness mediated by romantic attachment style. Participants of the study included 411 students. Results Results indicated that for males an insecure father-child attachment style seems to be associated with higher levels of anxiety and avoidance in romantic attachments and then with aggressiveness. For females, an insecure mother-child attachment style seems to be associated with higher levels of aggressiveness. Conclusion The attachment to parents and to peers plays a key role in defining romantic attachment according to gender, and these dimensions in turn tend to affect the levels of aggressiveness.

Late Adolescents’ Attachment to Parents and Peers and Psychological Distress Resulting from COVID-19. A Study on the Mediation Role of Alexithymia

“…Although the relationship with parents continues to assume a crucial support role [126][127][128]-as our findings have also shown-attachment to peers become their essential secure base and source of emotional support [129][130][131]. Consequently, in line with our findings, during this developmental stage, insecure attachment to peers represents the strongest predictor for psychopathological problems, compared to insecure attachment to parents [132,133]. In times of the COVID-19 outbreak and its related restrictions, insecurely attached late adolescents tend to be more vulnerable than their secure peers to the psychopathological consequence of the pandemic [49], both because they are less able to manage their negative feelings (as our study has suggested) and because they would tend to seek less online interactions and emotional support from friends compared to their secure peers [134].…”

Psychological factors of sibling caregivers of patients with severe mental disorders: an observational study

“…The dysfunctional attitude of the nurturing parent, mainly characterized by a lack of maternal care, comes from a type of traumatic experience such as, for example, neglect or emotional and physical abuse (Carli et al, 2019 ; Cassidy, 1994 ; Santona, De Cesare, Tognasso, De Franceschi, & Sciandra, 2019 ). Despite these reported difficulties associated with the family environment (mostly related to a dysfunctional maternal attachment bond), almost no caregiver attributed the onset of the sibling’s illness to these problems, considering some external cause instead.…”

“…Finally, primary caregivers have been shown to present high levels of objective and subjective burden, feelings of guilt, stigma, shyness (Barak & Solomon, 2005;Sin et al, 2016), as well as lack of communication in the path of hyper-care of the sick sibling (Taylor et al, 2001), and widespread difficulties at a psychosocial level . These findings not only highlight the need for carerspecific interventions (Sin et al, 2015;Sin et al, 2016), but also stress the intense involvement of caregivers in the therapeutic and rehabilitative needs of their psychopathological siblings (Dixon, Lyles, & Scott, 1999;Marsh, Appleby, Dickens, Owens, & Young, 1993;Sin et al, 2015).…”

“…Given the importance of caregivers for the lives of individuals with severe mental disorders, the quality of life of these individuals is, perhaps not surprisingly, strongly associated with the quality of relationship with their healthy siblings (Sin, Jordan, Barley, Henderson, & Norman, 2015;, caregiver involvement, and future care expectations (Greenberg et al, 1999;Hatfield & Lefley, 2005;Horwitz et al, 1992;. The impact of assuming the role of primary caregivers has shown that it brings about high levels of psychological stress (Richieri et al, 2011;Sin et al, 2016;Stalberg et al, 2004) as well as negatively impacting the caregiver's quality of life (Caqueo-Urìzar et al, 2009;Martens & Addington, 2001;Sin et al, 2015). It has also been associated with an increase in chronic diseases, psychosomatic symptoms, anxiety and depression (Arajärvi et al, 2006;Argyropoulos et al, 2008;Awad & Voruganti, 2008;Friedrich et al, 1999;Glozman, 2004;Reiss, Neiderhiser, Hetherington, & Plomin, 2000;Reiss & Olivieri, 1991;Sin et al, 2016).…”

“Old Wine in a New Bottle”. Depression and Romantic Relationships in Italian Emerging Adulthood: The Moderating Effect of Gender

“…In other words, it is not only an outcome but can be also an antecedent. Furthermore, Santona et al [24] showed that high levels of emotional responsiveness can also predict aggressive behaviors during adulthood. Marriage and/or cohabitation, and more in general all stable romantic unions, are linked to better physical and mental health for both children, young people, and adults.…”