Attachment and peer relations in adolescence

Abstract

The aim of this investigation was to examine whether adolescent attachment representation (as assessed using the Adult Attachment Interview) is linked to the quality of adolescents' peer relations (as assessed using a standard battery of peer-report instruments tapping adolescents' social behaviors, peer victimization, social acceptance, and sociometric status). As expected, secure/autonomous adolescents were more likely than insecure/dismissing adolescents to be perceived as behaving prosocially, and less likely to be perceived as aggressive, shy-withdrawn, and victimized by peers. Other findings indicated that insecure/dismissing adolescents, compared to secure/autonomous adolescents, were less likely to be socially accepted by their peers. In addition, insecure/dismissing girls, compared to secure/autonomous girls, were more likely to be neglected; no attachment group differences emerged for boys, or for peer rejection.