Abstract
After more than four decades of research and almost 100 attachment studies, the mechanisms of intergenerational transmission of attachment still remain unclear. To better understand the mechanisms moderating the associations of attachment orientations from one generation to the next, this empirical study examined the roles of 1) shared and non-shared environmental factors that characterize critical events in adulthood such as career choice, income and child care; 2) gender differences in attachment between parents (Generation 1, G1) and their adult offspring (Generation 2, G2) and their possible interactions. A sample of 321 families with G2 adults aged 18 and over and two G1 parents up to the age of 81 took part in this study. Both generations completed the Experiences in Close Relationships attachment measure as well as a comprehensive detailed measure of current core characteristics in adulthood (e.g. employment status, income, whether they had children) and demographic variables (gender, age). The findings suggest that the associations between the attachment orientations of G1 and the attachment orientations of G2 were moderated by G2’s income, their G1 paternal income and employment status, whether G2 had children (G3) of their own, and their family status after controlling for the age of G2, and the age of both paternal and maternal G1. When the associations for both paternal and maternal G1attachment orientation with both their male and female G2 was analyzed separately, this accounted for 35% of the variance of males’ G2 attachment orientation. The discussion focuses on the contribution of these findings to attachment theory and draws clinical conclusions.
Highlights
Attachment theory attempts to explain the etiology of attachment and the manifestations of interpersonal attachment dynamics throughout the life span [1]
The findings suggest that the associations between the attachment orientations of G1 and the attachment orientations of G2 were moderated by G2’s income, their G1 paternal income and employment status, whether G2 had children (G3) of their own, and their family status after controlling for the age of G2, and the age of both paternal and maternal G1
A core hypothesis of attachment theory is the influence of early attachment experiences on later socioemotional functioning, which may extend to adult attachment and parenting [2, 3, 8]
Summary
Attachment theory attempts to explain the etiology of attachment and the manifestations of interpersonal attachment dynamics throughout the life span [1]. The first, the developmental psychology tradition, is based on the original methodology used in in Bowlby’s studies which assessed the attachment orientations of infants using observational coding measures and especially the Strange Situation design [10]. Later studies within this same tradition were developed to assess adults’ status with respect to childhood attachment using the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI). Both of these measures assess Bowlby’s original premise of attachment orientation as arising from the infant’s relationship with his or her primary caregivers
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
