PARENT-ADOLESCENT ATTACHMENT : DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN COGNITIVE AND BEHAVIOURAL FACTORS

Abstract

The present study examined the cognitive and behavioural dimensions of parent-adolescent attachment and attempted to distinguish between the two using a sample of 237 adolescents (118 early adolescents and 119 late adolescents). Measurement analyses reveal that the cognitive and behavioural dimensions are distinct from each other and provided a better model fit over the one-factor solution. The construct validity of the Parent Salience Scale and the Parent Attachment Behaviour Scale was examined. Parent salience and parent attachment behaviour were found to correlate differentially to theoretical antecedents (parental warmth and hostility) and consequences of attachment (self-esteem and negative affect) for the late adolescents compared to the early adolescents. Implications of the findings were discussed in the context of research on attachment theory and adolescent development.