The Link Between Parental Bonding and Adult Attachment in Chinese Graduate Students: Gender Differences

Abstract

We examined the hypothesized link between early parental bonding experience and adult attachment in 565 graduate students in China. Data were analyzed according to gender. When adult attachment was measured dimensionally, findings showed the hypothesized relationship was not supported in both genders. However, partial support was indicated when adult attachment was measured categorically: (a) securely attached females reported significantly higher levels of paternal care than fearfully attached females; (b) securely attached males reported significantly higher levels of parental care and lower levels of parental overprotection than the 3 insecurely attached groups of males. Results are discussed in the context of the role cultural variables play in the development of attachment quality.