Date of Graduation
5-2023
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Social Work
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
School of Social Work
Advisor/Mentor
Fields, LaShawnda
Committee Member/Reader
Terrell, Amanda
Committee Member/Second Reader
Tyler, Susan
Committee Member/Third Reader
Terrell, Amanda
Committee Member/Fourth Reader
Warren, Ron
Abstract
Recent research suggests that attachment in adulthood impacts many aspects of an individual’s life, including experiences with romantic partners, emotional regulation, and overall life satisfaction. Research attributes this to the levels of attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance individuals experience due to relationship experiences with their caregivers in childhood. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between specific family dynamics and the presence of attachment anxiety and avoidance in adulthood. The present study recruited 185 adults to participate in an anonymous survey about the family dynamics they experienced in childhood, including the relationship between their parents or guardians (married/partnered, divorced, separated), the presence of biological, adoptive, foster, or extended family members in the home, and their self-reported family type (e.g., traditional, two-parent nuclear family, blended family, single-parent family). Multivariate analyses suggest that the relationship between caregivers in childhood influences attachment anxiety and avoidance in adulthood. Implications for further research and social work practice are discussed.
Keywords
attachment, attachment avoidance, attachment anxiety, family dynamics, impact of childhood experiences on adulthood
Citation
Miller, H. (2023). Examining Differences in Adult Attachment Across Varying Family Dynamics. School of Social Work Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/scwkuht/8