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Cited by 70Attachment and Relationship DynamicsPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology ResearchChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Attachment stability and the emergence of unresolved representations during adolescence

Aikins, Julie Wargo, Howes, Carollee, Hamilton, Claire·2009·Attachment & Human Development
DOI 10.1080/14616730903017019
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Abstract

This 15-year longitudinal study examined the stability of attachment representations from infancy to adolescence and investigated the emergence of unresolved representations during adolescence in a sample of 47 16-year-olds. Attachment was assessed at 12 months using the Strange Situation Procedure, at 4 years using the modified Strange Situation Procedure, and again at 16 years with the Adult Attachment Projective (AAP). The emergence of unresolved classifications in adolescence (AAP) was associated with higher rates of negative life events, low levels of early mother-child relationship security (an aggregate measure of the 12-month and 4-year measures), negative teacher-child relationship experiences in middle childhood, and low early adolescent friendship quality. The results support the growing body of evidence suggesting that changes in attachment are lawful, while adding to the growing understanding of the emergence of unresolved attachment representations.

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Authors
Aikins, J. W., Howes, C., & Hamilton, C.
Affiliations
  • University of Connecticut (US)
  • University of California, Los Angeles (US)
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst (US)
Corresponding author
Aikins, Julie Wargo
ORCID
Venue
Attachment & Human Development
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2009-09
Volume
11
Issue
5
Pages
491-512
ISSN
  • 1461-6734 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-2988
DOI
10.1080/14616730903017019
OpenAlex
W2172047867
Cited by
70
References
89
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 4
FWCI
3.90
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Attachment & Human Development (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Scholarworks (University of Massachusetts Amherst) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
attachment representations, unresolved attachment, attachment stability, adolescence, teacher-child relationship, friendship quality, negative life events, Strange Situation Procedure, longitudinal development
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Age Factors, Child, Child, Preschool, Faculty, Family Relations, Female, Humans, Infant, Life Change Events, Loneliness, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Object Attachment, Psychometrics, Surveys and Questionnaires, Social Support, Statistics as Topic, Stress, Psychological, Time Factors, Videotape Recording, Confidence Intervals, Logistic Models, Odds Ratio

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