Attachment comes of age: adolescents' narrative coherence and reflective functioning predict well-being in emerging adulthood. Issue 4 (4th July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Borelli, Jessica L.; Brugnera, Agostino; Zarbo, Cristina; Rabboni, Massimo; Bondi, Emi; Tasca, Giorgio A.; Compare, Angelo
• Is Part Of: Attachment & human development. Volume 21:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 332
• Page End: 351
• Publication Date: 2019-07-04
• Subjects: Attachment -- narrative coherence -- reflective functioning -- adolescence -- psychological adjustment; Attachment behavior -- Periodicals; Developmental psychology -- Periodicals; 155.418
• DOI: 10.1080/14616734.2018.1479870
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-6734

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study investigated the effects of adolescents' attachment security and reflective functioning (RF) (assessed by the adult attachment interview [AAI]) in the prediction of well-being in adulthood. Adolescents ( N = 79; M = 14.6 years old; SD = 3.5 years) completed the AAI at Time 1 (T1), which was subsequently coded for inferred attachment experiences, narrative coherence, and RF by three nonoverlapping teams of raters. Participants completed the Psychological General Well-being Index at T1 and 8 years later (Time 2, T2). Analyses showed that (a) both adolescent narrative coherence and RF were significant predictors of almost all indices of well-being at T2 in adulthood; (b) both narrative coherence and RF indirectly linked inferred loving parental care and T2 well-being; (c) when included in the same model, RF was a significant indirect effect linking inferred loving parental care and T2 well-being. These findings contribute to theory in suggesting that both RF and narrative coherence are predictive of subsequent psychological well-being and operate as links between inferred parental care and subsequent adjustment. Possible mechanisms underlying these findings are discussed.