| dc.description.abstract | Introduction
Individual’s attachment style and coping styles have been suggested to be
related to each other whereby early attachment experiences shape the coping
behaviours that individuals are most likely to engage in at times of stress.
A systematic review was carried out to examine the available literature on
attachment status and coping style in both adolescent and adult populations
with the aim of establishing what is currently known about the association
between these two concepts. A research study was carried out with the aim
of investigating the relationship between adolescents’ attachment type,
coping style and participation in health risk behaviours. The study also
aimed to explore the relationship between attachment, coping and
personality state dominance.
Method
A literature search was conducted following PRISMA (2009) and Cochrane
(2008) guidelines. Papers were quality assessed and strengths and
limitations considered.
With regards the empirical project, a cross-sectional survey design was
adopted to investigate the mediating role of coping style on adolescent risk
taking and its relationship with attachment and state dominance (negativism
and telic). Seventy-six first year psychology undergraduate students
participated in the study. Participants completed the A-RQ attachment
questionnaire, the ACS coping questionnaire, the TDS and NDS personality
trait questionnaires, the YRBS behaviour questionnaire and the SDQ mental
health screening tool.
Results
The systematic review yielded an initial 812 papers from use of the search
terms. Eleven papers met criterion for inclusion in the review. The papers
were quality assessed and strength and difficulties of the papers were
reviewed. The findings highlight the need for further robust investigations
into the subject area, and recommendations are made for future
investigations.
With regards the empirical project, analysis revealed that the relationship
between attachment security and risk taking related to feelings of sadness
and plans or attempts to carry out suicide. This was not mediated by use of
higher levels of unproductive coping in adolescents. Analysis also revealed
that high negativism dominance predicted increased participation in alcohol,
tobacco and drug misuse. This relationship was not mediated by increased
use of unproductive coping behaviours.
Conclusions
The need to establish a more consistent conceptualisation of coping was
apparent. It was suggested that future research needs to address limitations
in the field including the validity of some self-report measures of attachment,
inconsistency in selection of measures, over-reliance on self-report measures
and an absence of research out with westernised cultures. Adolescents’ attachment insecurity in key relationships would seem to be
one vulnerability factor that contributes to the development of emotional
difficulties and adolescents’ preference for being in a rebellious state (high
negativism dominance) would seem to contribute to participation in risky
substance misuse and so at the very least, these should be considered as
predictors for engagement in specific types of health risk behaviour. | en |
