Attachment Style and Its Relationships with Early Memories of Separation Anxiety and Adult Separation Anxiety Symptoms among Emerging Adults

Giulia Bassi, Elisa Mancinelli, Silvia Spaggiari, Adriana Lis, Silvia Salcuni and Daniela Di Riso
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Giulia Bassi: Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy
Elisa Mancinelli: Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy
Silvia Spaggiari: Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy
Adriana Lis: Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy
Silvia Salcuni: Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy
Daniela Di Riso: Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 14, 1-11

Abstract: Emerging adulthood concerns the transition from adolescence to adulthood. It foresees the separation from the family and the creation of new significant relationships, whereby specific attachment styles might be triggered when facing these challenges. The present study investigates the influence of retrospective memories associated with childhood separation anxiety symptoms upon emerging adults’ romantic avoidant vs. anxious attachment styles including adult separation anxiety symptoms as mediators. Age and gender were included as covariates. A community sample of N = 394 Italian emerging adults (Mage = 23.64, SD = 4.00, 70% females) completed self-report measures. The results showed that the participants presented a greater anxious attachment rather than an avoidant attachment style. Moreover, both adult separation anxiety and the memories of early separation anxiety were positively and significantly associated with anxious attachment and not with avoidant attachment. A mediation model conducted and focused on anxious attachment showed that, although not directly associated, child separation anxiety did show a significant positive indirect effect on anxious attachment as mediated by adult separation anxiety symptoms. Thus, the findings highlighted the influence of adult separation anxiety symptoms and retrospective childhood memories of separation anxiety upon anxious adult romantic attachment, yet not on avoidant attachment style. Clinical implications are discussed and suggestions for future research are provided.

Keywords: emerging adulthood; adult romantic attachment; adult separation anxiety; retrospective memories of separation anxiety (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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