Maternal Insecure Adult Attachment and Psychological Control: Mediating Role of Mentalization and Negative Emotion
Abstract
This study attempted to find a pathway of influence among maternal insecure adult attachment, mentalization, negative emotion in terms of anxiety and depression, and maternal psychological control. Based on review of relevant literature, this study proposed a structural equation model where maternal ability for mentalization as measured by emotional regulation mediates the relationship between insecure adult attachment and negative emotion and psychological control. Results based on a sample of 357 mothers in their 30's and 40's with their first child in 4th through 9th grade, indicated that the hypothesized theoretical model had the best model fit. The adopted model indicates that the influence of attachment anxiety on psychological control was mediated by mentalization and negative emotion. The attachment avoidance, however, had no significant influence on mentalization but had significant effect on negative emotion, which, in turn significantly influenced maternal psychological control. These results indicated that for attachment anxiety, mentalization is a protective factor for negative emotion and maternal psychological control. Also, the link between mentalization and maternal psychological control was partially mediated by negative emotion. The findings also suggest separate and independent pathways of influence for attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance. Importance of mentalization as buffering the effect of insecure attachment on psychological control, and effect of maternal negative emotion on psychological control toward adolescent children are discussed. Limitations of current study and suggestions for future investigations are included in the discussion.
- keywords
- insecure adult attachment, mentalization, anxiety, depression, maternal psychological control, adolescents, 불안정 성인애착, 정신화 능력, 불안, 우울, 어머니 심리적 통제, 청소년 자녀, insecure adult attachment, mentalization, anxiety, depression, maternal psychological control, adolescents
Reference
강영미 (2004). 어머니의 성취동기, 특성불안 및 자녀에 대한 신뢰가 양육태도에 미치는 영향. 한양대학교 교육대학원 석사논문.
권선중, 김교헌 (2008). 마음챙김과 자기-조절 그리고 애착. 2008 한국심리학회 연차학술발표대회 논문집, 12-13.
김성현 (2004). 친밀관계경험검사 개정판 타당화 연구: 확증적 요인분석과 문항반응이론 중심으로. 서울대학교 대학원 석사학위 청구논문.
김정란, 이은희 (2007). 중년 여성의 불안정 애착이 본인의 우울수준 및 자녀의 문제행동에 미치는 영향: 역기능적 태도와 부부갈등의 매개역할. 한국심리학회지: 상담 및 심리치료, 19(2), 297-319.
김정택 (1978). 특성불안과 사회성과의 관계: Spielberger의 STAI를 중심으로. 고려대학교 대학원 석사논문.
나선영, 안명희 (2011). 부모와의 유대가 성인애착에 미치는 영향: 자아탄력성과 심리적 독립의 매개효과. 한국여성심리학회: 여성, 16(3), 331-355.
류수정 (2010). 애착에 따른 정서경험과 정서표현, 정서조절의 관계. 가톨릭대학교 석사학위논문.
박성연, 이은경, 송주현, Soenens (2008). 부모의 심리적 통제유형이 청소년의 의존심, 자아비난 및 우울에 미치는 영향. 아동학회지, 29(5), 65-78.
박영애, 최영희, 박인전 (2002). 어머니의 성격특성이 양육행동에 미치는 영향-양육행동에 대한 어머니와 아동의 지각 차이를 중심으로. 아동학회지, 23(2), 71-88.
서우정 (2007). 정서조절곤란과 수용처치가 대학생들의 불안증상에 미치는 영향. 한림대학교 일반대학원 석사학위 청구논문.
안명희 (2010a). 모의 불안정 성인애착과 심리적 통제: 모의 정서와 자아유능감의 매개효과. 한국심리학회지: 여성, 15(4), 691- 710.
안명희 (2010b). 어머니의 불안정 성인애착이 자녀의 문제행동에 미치는 영향: 어머니의 정서와 심리적 통제의 매개효과. 한국심리학회지: 일반, 29(4), 867-885.
안하얀, 서영석 (2010). 성인애착, 심리적 디스트레스, 대인관계문제: 피드백에 대한 반응, 정서적 대처, 사회적 지지 추구의 매개효과 검증. 한국심리학회지: 상담 및 심리치료, 22(3), 575-603.
이영호, 송종용 (1991). BDI, SDS, MMPI-D 척도의 신뢰도 및 타당도에 대한 연구. 한국심리학회지: 임상, 10(1), 98-113.
전숙영 (2007). 어머니의 심리통제 및 아동의 행동적 자율성과 자기 통제력이 아동의 문제행동에 미치는 영향. 한국가정관리학회지, 25(4), 169-179.
정윤주 (2008). 유아기 자녀를 둔 어머니의 아동기 애착경험, 성격특성, 자녀양육스트레스와 양육행동. 대한가정학회지, 46(3), 73- 85.
조용래 (2007). 정서조절곤란의 평가: 한국판 척도의 심리측정적 속성. 한국심리학회지: 임상, 26(4), 1015-1038.
최예종, 조용래 (2009). 정서조절곤란과 수용처치가 대학생의 우울기분 변화에 미치는 효과. 한국심리학회지: 임상, 28(4), 1107- 1134.
Adam, E. K., Gunnar, M. R., & Tanaka, A. (2004). Adult attachment, parent emotion, and observed parenting behavior: mediator and moderator models. Child Development, 75(1), 110-122.
Barber, B. K. (1996). Parental Psychological Control: revisiting a neglected construct. Child Development, 67(6), 3296-3319.
Barber, B. K., & Harmon, E. L. (2002). Violating the Self: Parental Psychological Control of Children and Adolescents in B. Barber (Eds.) Intrusive Parenting: How psychological control affects children and adolescents, Washington D. C.: American Psychological Association.
Bartholomew, K., & Horowitz, L. M. (1991). Attachment styles among young adults: A test of a four-category model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61(2), 226-244.
Bateman, A., & Fonagy, P. (2004). Psychotherapy for Borderline Personality Disorder: mentalization-based treatment. Oxford University Press Inc., New York.
Benoit, D., & Parker, K. (1994). Stability and transmission of attachment across three generations. Child development, 55, 83-96.
Belsky, J., Robins, E., & Gamble, W. (1984). The determinants of parental competence: Toward a contextual theory. In M. Lewis (Ed.). Beyond the Dyad. New York: Plenum.
Bouchard, M., Target, M., Lecours, S., Fonagy, P., Tremblay, L., Schachter, A., & Stein, H. (2008). Mentalization in adult attachment narratives: reflective functioning, mental states, and affect elaboration compared. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 25, 47-66.
Bowlby, J. (1979). The making and breaking of affectional bonds. British Journal of Psychiatry, 130(201-210, 421-431).
Brennan, K. A., Clark, C. L., & Shaver, P. R. (1998). Self-report measurement of adult romantic attachment: An integrative overview. In J. A. Simpson & W. S. Rhodes (Eds.), Attachment theory and close relationships (pp.46-76). New York: Guilford Press.
Burnette, J. L., Davis, D. E., Green, J. D., Worthington Jr. E. L., & Bradfield, E. (2009). Insecure attachment and depressive symptoms: the mediating role of rumination, empathy and forgiveness. Personality and Individual Differences, 46, 276-280.
Cassidy, J., & Kobak, R. R. (1988). Avoidance and its relationship with other defensive processes. In J. Belsky & T. Nezworski (Eds.), Clinical implications of attachment (pp. 300-323), Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Cassidy, J., & Shaver, P. R. (Eds.). (2008). Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.
Choi-Kain, L. W., & Gunderson, J. G. (2008). Mentalization: ontogeny, assessment, and application in the treatment of borderline personality disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, 165, 1127-1135.
Cicchetti, D., & Toth, S. L. (1995). A developmental psychopathology perspective on child abuse and neglect. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 34, 541-565.
Fonagy, P. (2001). Attachment theory and psychoanalysis. New York: Other Press.
Fonagy, P. & Bateman, A. W. (2007). Mentalizing and borderline personality disorder. Journal of Mental Health, 16(1), 83-101.
Fonagy, P., Gergely, G., Jurist, E., & Target, M. (2002). Affect regulation, mentalization, and the development of the self. New York: NY. Other Press.
Fonagy, P., & Target, M. (1997). Attachment and reflective function: Their role in self- organization. Developmental Psychopathology, 9, 679-700.
Gratz, K. I., & Roemer, L. (2004). Multidimensional assessment of emotion regulation and dysregulation: Development, factor structure, and initial validation of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 26, 41-54.
Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. R. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 511-524.
Hazan, C., Gur-Yaish, N., & Campa. (2004). What does it mean to be attached? In J. A. Simpson & W. S. Rholes (Eds), Adult attachment, (pp.55-85). New York: Guildford Press.
Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6, 1-55.
Kobak, R. (1999). The emotional dynamics of disruptions in attachment relationships: Implications for theory, research, and clinical intervention. In J. Cassidy & P. R. Shaver (Eds.), Handbook of attachment: theory, research, and clinical applications (pp.21-43). New York: Guilford.
Mallinckrodt, B. (2000). Attachment, social competencies, social support, and interpersonal process in psychotherapy. Psychotherapy Research, 10(3), 239-266.
Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. (2003). The attachment behavioral system in adulthood: Activation, psychodynamics, and interpersonal processes. in M. P. Zanna(Ed.). Advances in experimental social psychology, 35, 53-152, New York, NY: Academic Press.
Mikulincer, M., Shaver, P. R., Cassidy, J., & Berant (2009). Attachment-related defensive processes in Obegi, J. H. & Beranrm E. (eds.) Attachment theory and clinical work with adults (pp.293-327). New York: Guilford Press.
Mikulincer, M., Shaver, P. R., & Perge, D. (2003). Attachment theory and affect regulation: The dynamics, development, and cognitive consequences of attachment-related strategies. Motivation and Emotion, 27(2), 77-102.
Papalia, D. E., & Olds, S. W. (1995) Human Development, 6th ed., (New York: McGraw- Hill, Inc., 1995), p.346.
Pettit, G. S., Laird, R. D., Dodge, K. A., Bates, J. E., & Criss, M. M. (2001). Antecedents and behavior problem outcomes of parental monitoring and psychological control in early adolescence. Child Development, 72, 583-598.
Rudden, M., Milrod, B., Target, M., Ackerman, S., & Graf, E. (2006). Reflective functioning in panic disorder patients: A pilot study. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 54(4), 1339-1343.
Russell, D. W., Kahn, J. H., Spoth, R. S., & Altmaier, E. M. (1998). Analyzing data from experimental studies: A latent variable structural equation modeling approach. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 45, 18-29.
Schore, A. N. (2003). Affect dysregulation and disorders of the self. New York: W. W. Norton.
Shaver, P. R., Belsky, J., & Brennan, K. A. (2000). The adult attachment interview and self-reports of romantic attachment: Associations across domains and methods. Personal Relationships, 7, 25-43.
Shaver, P. R. & Mikulincer, M. (2002). Attachment-related psychodynamics. Attachment and Human Development, 4(2), 133-161.
Siegel, D. J. (2007). The mindful brain. New York: W. W. Norton.
Skarderud, F. (2007). Eating one's words, part II: The embodied mind and reflective function in anorexia nervosa-theory. European Eating Disorders Review, 15(4), 243-252.
Soenens, B., Vansteenkiste, M., Luyten, P., Duriez, B., & Goossens, L. (2005). Maladaptive perfectionistic self-representations: The mediational link between psychological control and adjustment. Personality and individual differences, 38(2), 487-498.
Spielberger C. D., Gorsuch, R. L., and Lushene, R. E. (1970). Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
van Ijzendoorn, M. H. (1995). Adult attachment representations, parental responsiveness, and infant attachment: a meta-analysis on the predictive validity of the Adult Attachment Interview. Psychological Bulletin, 117, 387-403.
Ward, M. J., & Carlson, E. A. (1995). Associations among adult attachment representations, maternal sensitivity, and infant -mother attachment in a sample of adolescent mothers. Child Development, 66, 69-79.
Wei, M., Heppner, P. P., & Mallinckrodt, B. (2003). Perceived coping as a mediator between attachment and psychological distress: A structural equation modeling approach. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 50, 438-447.
Wei, M., Shaffer, P. A., Young, S. K., & Zakalik, R. A. (2005). Adult Attachment, Shame, Depression, and Loneliness: The Mediation Role of Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52, 591-601.
Wei, M., Vogel, D. L., Ku, T. Y., & Zakalik, R. A. (2005). Adult attachment, affect regulation, negative mood, and interpersonal problems: The mediating roles of emotional reactivity and emotional cutoff. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52, 14-24.
Wood, J. J., Mcleod, B. D., Sigman, M., Hwang, W. C., & Chu, B. C. (2003). Parenting and childhood anxiety: theory, empirical findings, and future directions. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 44(1), 134-151.
- Downloaded
- Viewed
- 0KCI Citations
- 0WOS Citations