Relationship between Perceived Parental Rearing Behaviors, Attachment Patterns and Anxiety Disorders among Adolescents

Author: Humaira Naz

Supervisor: Dr. Saima Dawood

Degree: MS

Year: 2008-2010

University: Centre for Clinical Psychology, Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

The present study aimed to ascertain the relationship between Perceived Parental Rearing Behaviors, Attachment Patterns and Anxiety Disorders symptoms among Adolescents. Corelational research design was used. The study included a sample of 630 adolescents (336 girls & 294 boys) of age range of 13-19 years. The sample was collected from government and private schools, colleges of Data Gunj Baksh Town, Lahore. Stratified sampling strategy was used to collect sample according to proportions of SES: 350 from Lower SES, 210 from Middle SES and 70 from Upper SES. At second stage, Purposive sampling was used for the selection of institutes from where participants were recruited. The research instruments included Personal History Questionnaire; Egna Minnen Bteraffande Uppfostran Questionnaire – Modified (EMBU-C); Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA-R); Attachment Style Classification Questionnaire (ASCQ) and Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED-R). For data analysis, Pearson Product Moment CorrelationCoefficient, Regression Analyses and t test were employed. Result showed that parental rearing behaviors of Overprotection/Control, Anxious Rearing and Rejection (Father and Mother), Alienation, Ambivalent and Avoidant attachment style were correlates of anxiety among adolescents. The identified predictors were maternal Overprotection/ Control, Anxious Rearing, Emotional Warmth, Alienated attachment to father and mother and Ambivalent and Avoidant Attachment styles in total sample. Gender differences revealed high scores on Avoidant Attachment Style and Anxiety disorder symptoms among girls. Boys reported high scores on mother trust, mother and father’s Anxious Rearing, father’s Overprotection/Control and father’s Rejection. It is concluded that adolescents raised by parents with healthy rearing behaviors and attachment patterns are less vulnerable to anxiety symptoms. The study will have social and clinical implication in designing effective Parent training program for raising and dealing with anxiety prone adolescent. It would also helpful in planning intervention strategies for Anxiety Management of adolescents with dysfunctional attachment patterns.

Keywords: Rearing Behaviors, Parents, Anxiety, Attachment Patterns.

Visit Centre for Clinical Psychology