Attachment to parents and externalizing behavior problems in adolescence

Abstract

The quality of attachment to parents is considered as one of the most recognizable indicators of children and adolescents abutment. The largest part of research studies indicate an association between inadequate attachment to parents on one side and externalizing problems, meaning aggressive behavior and violating rules at the other sides. The aim of this paper is the understanding of various aspects of the correlation of attachment to parents and externalising behavior problems. Research findings suggest that the correlation with externalising problems is stronger at young children and between same-sex parents and children. Female adolescents are more attached to their peers than their parents. Secure attachment to parents patterns affect parental monitoring. In order to improve the quality and aspects of attachment, family interventions for both parents in childhood or early adolescence, intended to cover grate number of risk factors is recommended.

Kvalitet privrženosti roditeljima smatra se jednim od najpouzdanijih indikatora prilagođenosti dece i adolescenata. Najveći deo istraživačkih studija ukazuje na povezanost neadekvatne privrženosti roditeljima, sa jedne, i ispoljavanja eksternalizovanih problema, odnosno agresivnog ponašanja i ponašanja kojim se krše pravila, sa druge strane. Cilj rada pretpostavlja sagledavanje različitih aspekata povezanosti privrženosti roditeljima i eksternalizovanih problema u ponašanju. Istraživački nalazi sugerišu da je veza sa eksternalizovanim problemima snažnija kod mlađe dece, između istopolnih roditelja i dece, dok su adolescentkinje privrženije vršnjacima nego roditeljima. Siguran obrazac privrženosti roditeljima u vezi je s adekvatnim vršenjem roditeljskog nadzora. Radi unapređivanja kvaliteta i aspekata privrženosti preporučuje se primena porodičnih intervencija za oba roditelja, u detinjstvu ili ranoj adolescenciji, namenjene redukovanju većeg broja rizičnih faktora.