Transmission of the Parent-adolescent Attachment Bond to the Next Generation: A Case-control Study
Journal Title: International Neuropsychiatric Disease Journal - Year 2016, Vol 5, Issue 1
Abstract
Background and Goals: Many studies have examined how types of parent-child attachment bond are transmitted from one generation to the next, and how this may be associated with the occurrence of psychological disorders and dysfunctional relationships. In this study, we proposed to investigate the relationship, if any, between dysfunctional attachment bond and psychopathology, and to see whether dysfunctional parent-adolescent attachment bonds are handed down to the next generation. Methods: The clinical group (cases) consisted of 44 adolescents with psychological disorders (21 males and 23 females) with a mean age of 15.3 years ± SD 1.549, attending our Service for Children, Adolescents and Families, ULSS 16 (Padua); the control group consisted of 44 adolescents, matched pairwise for age and gender, recruited at secondary schools in Vicenza. We used the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) to measure the adolescents’ perception of how their parents behaved towards them. Results: A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups of adolescents regarding their attachment bond with their fathers and mothers: the clinical group had a higher percentage of dysfunctional attachment bonds with both their fathers (37% vs 10%) and their mothers (45% vs 13%). As for the transmission of dysfunctional attachment bonds to the next generation, we found that adolescents with dysfunctional relationships with their mothers had mothers whose attachment bond with their own parents had been dysfunctional too. The opposite was true in the control group, who showed 'positive' changes in relation to both the grandparent-father-adolescent triad, and the grandparent-mother-adolescent triad.
Authors and Affiliations
Michela Gatta, Marta Sisti, Lorenza Svanellini, Laura Sudati, Martina Chioccarello, Ilaria Comis, Andrea Spoto
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP241592
- DOI 10.9734/INDJ/2016/18058
- Views 111
- Downloads 0
Conversion Disorder in the Elderly Population: Case Report
Conversion disorder is a psychological disorder that appears as a loss in individual’s motor and/or sensory functions without any apparent organic reason. It was reported that it is usually observed in 15 – 35 years old...
Pharmacotherapy in Patients with Drug-induced Parkinsonism: A Case Series
Drug-induced Parkinsonism develops in a number of patients with schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorders. Conventionally, anti-parkinsonism drugs, such as levodopa and dopamine agonists have been avoided due to their...
Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia in Nigerian Hospital Patients: Prevalence, Correlates and Caregiver Burden
Aims: This study was aimed at measuring the prevalence and impact of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) of elderly hospital attendees in Lagos Nigeria; and determining socio-cultural factors associa...
Spontaneous Enlargement then Regression of a Colloid Cyst of the III Ventricle
Aim: We describe a case of a 22 year old pregnant female patient who was found to have a small colloid cyst that increased spontaneously, followed by spontaneous significant reduction in size. Presentation of Case: The p...
Ambient Sulphur Dioxide and Emergency Department Visits for Migraine and Depression
Aims: Depression and migraine are linked especially among women. Little previous research has focused on the potential association between ambient sulphur dioxide (SO2) exposure and emergency department (ED) visits for m...