The Relation between Attachment Organization and Accuracy of Self-Perception

in Adolescence

Lauren Berger

University of Denver

Cynthia Moore

Judge Baker Children's Center

Deborah Land

Johns Hopkins University

Kathy Bell

University of North Carolina, Greensboro

Sheryl Peck

University of Virginia

Abstract

This study examined the relation between attachment organization and accuracy of self-perception among 176 (95 male, 81 female) moderately at-risk adolescents. Attachment organization was assessed with the Adult Attachment Interview. Accuracy of self-perception was measured in terms of concordance of adolescent self- and parent/peer-report on measures of adolescent psychosocial functioning. Preoccupied adolescents overreported internalizing/externalizing symptoms in comparison to parent-reports. Dismissing adolescents were more likely to be discrepant from parent-reports of internalizing/externalizing symptoms, and from peer-reports of behavior conduct. The findings suggest that attachment theory may account for individual differences in self-perception of symptoms in adolescence.

The Relation between Attachment Organization and Accuracy of Self-Perception

in Adolescence

What psychological processes promote accuracy versus distortion in self-perception? Attachment theory offers a particularly interesting perspective on the development of self-views, and research suggests that attachment may be related to concordance between self- and other-perceptions. Despite promising theoretical inference and a substantial body of research on linkages between attachment and psychosocial functioning in childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood, there is limited empirical research on how attachment might account for stable and enduring individual differences in self-perception accuracy across the lifespan. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the extent to which attachment may account for individual differences in self-perception accuracy in adolescence.

Method

Participants

  • 176 (95 male, 81 female) adolescents, their mothers, their fathers, and their close friends
  • 40.3% ethnic/racial minority
  • Median family income = $25,000
  • Adolescents’ mean age = 15.93 (SD = 0.81)
  • Adolescents were recruited from local public schools based on the presence of at least one academic risk factor (e.g., multiple absences, suspensions, expulsion, and low or failing grades).

Measures

  • Adolescent attachment organization. Adult Attachment Interview (George, Kaplan, & Main, 1985/1996) and Adult Attachment Interview Q-Sort coding system (Kobak, Cole, Ferenz-Gillies, Fleming, & Gamble, 1993).
  • Adolescent accuracy of self-perception. Concordance of adolescent self- and parent/close-friend-report on measures of adolescent psychosocial adjustment; Evaluated in terms of (a) Simple Difference (Adolescent Report minus Parent/Close-friend Report) and (b) Absolute Difference(|Adolescent Report minus Parent/Close-friend Report|).
  • Adolescent self-report of psychosocial adjustment. Youth Self-Report (Achenbach, 1991) (internalizing and externalizing symptoms) and Adolescent Self-Perception Profile (behavior conduct) (Harter, 1988).
  • Parent-report of adolescent symptoms. Child Behavior Checklist (Achenbach & Edelbrock, 1983) (internalizing and externalizing symptoms).
  • Close-friend report of adolescent behavior conduct. Modified version of the Adolescent Self-Perception Profile.

Results

  • Adolescents with insecure attachment were more likely to have greater discrepancies between self- and other-report of psychosocial symptoms.
  • Adolescents who were preoccupied with attachment were more likely to overrate internalizing and externalizing symptoms in comparison to parent reports of adolescent symptomatology (see Table 1).
  • A dismissing attachment organization was linked to greater (absolute) discrepancy between adolescent self- and parent-report of internalizing and externalizing symptoms.
  • Dismissing adolescents’ reports of behavior conduct were more likely to be incongruent with close-friend reports of adolescent behavior conduct (see Table 2).

Discussion

  • The findings suggest that attachment theory may account for individual differences in the development of adolescents’ self-perceptions of distress.
  • Adolescents with a dismissing attachment organization may distortedly deny or not express negative affect to significant others.
  • Adolescents with a preoccupied attachment organization may distortedly amplify self-perceptions and/or expressions of negative affect to attachment figures.
  • The results suggest that adolescent attachment organization may be related to accuracy of adolescents’ self-perception of symptoms.

References

Achenbach, T. M. (1991). Manual for the Youth Self-Report and 1991 Profile. Burlington:

University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry.

Achenbach, T. M., & Edelbrock, C. S. (1983). Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist.

Burlington: University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry.

George, C., Kaplan, N., & Main, M. (1996). Adult Attachment Interview. Unpublished

manuscript, Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley (3d ed.).

Harter, S. (1988). Manual for the Adolescent Self-Perception Profile. Denver: Author.

Kobak, R. R., Cole, H. E., Ferenz-Gillies, R., Fleming, W. S., & Gamble, W. (1993). Attachment

and emotion regulation during mother-teen problem-solving: A control theory analysis. Child Development, 64, 231-245.

Table 1

Correlations of adolescent attachment to discrepancy of adolescent- and parent-report of internalizing and externalizing symptoms

Construct

/

Attachment

Preoccupied / Dismissing

Discrepancy of Adolescent- and Mother-Reporta

Internalizing Symptoms

Simple Difference (Adolescent – Mother) / .29*** / -.03
Absolute Difference (|Adolescent – Mother|) / .08 / -.08
Externalizing Symptoms

Simple Difference (Adolescent – Mother)

/

.24**

/ -.12

Absolute Difference (|Adolescent – Mother|)

/

.16*

/ .19*

Discrepancy of Adolescent- and Father-Reportb

Internalizing Symptoms

Simple Difference (Adolescent – Father) / .52*** / .17
Absolute Difference (|Adolescent – Father|) / .43*** / .14

Externalizing Symptoms

Simple Difference (Adolescent – Father) / .36** / .08+
Absolute Difference (|Adolescent – Father|) / .29* / .23

an=149. bn=58.

Note. *** p < .001. ** p  .01. * p < .05. + p < .10.

Table 2

Correlations of adolescent attachment to discrepancy of adolescent- and close-friend-report of behavior conduct

Construct

/

Attachment

Preoccupied / Dismissing

Discrepancy of Adolescent- and Close-Friend-Report

Behavior Conduct

Simple Difference (Adolescent – Close-Friend) / .06 / .02
Absolute Difference (|Adolescent – Close-Friend|) / -.12 / .27**

Note. *** p < .001. ** p  .01. * p < .05. + p < .10. n=12