Identity in university students: the role of parental and romantic attachment

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2012

Authors

Marisa Ávila (Author) Other; Joana Cabral (Author) FPCEUP; Paula Mena Matos (Author) FPCEUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Adolescence

Vol. 35 No. 1

Pages: 133-142

ISSN: 0140-1971

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 1 Citation

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 0 Citations

PsycInfo

Scientific classification

FOS: Social sciences > Psychology

Associated Projects

Vinculação - Vinculação, desenvolvimento e adaptação psicossocial

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-DC3

DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2011.05.002

Abstract (EN): In this study with 236 Portuguese university students, we examined two competing models for understanding identity. In the first model, the direct independent effects of parental and romantic attachment on identity were tested. The second model examined the mediating role of romantic attachment representations in the link between parental attachment and identity. The participants completed measures of parental and romantic attachment at the beginning of the freshman year (Wave 1), and a measure of identity development 18 months later (Wave 2). Structural equation modeling for the independent model indicated that identity is exclusively predicted by romantic attachment at this life stage, and not by parental attachment. Regarding the second model, our mediational hypothesis was supported, since the association between parental attachment and identity was totally mediated by romantic attachment representations. Both models presented adequate indices of adjustment, and provided a complementary understanding of the differential role that romantic relations play in contributing to explaining identity development. (C) 2011 The Foundation for Professionals in Services for Adolescents. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

Notes: <a href="http://gateway.isiknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=Alerting&SrcApp=Alerting&DestApp=WOS&DestLinkType=FullRecord&KeyUT=000300804600013">Acesso à Web of Science</a> <br> <a href="http://www.scopus.com/record/display.url?eid=2-s2.0-84855613547&origin=resultslist">Acesso à Scopus</a>

No. of pages: 10