Parenting style experienced, current attachment style, and the relationship to emotion regulation in young adults

Thesis (M.A.)--Humboldt State University, Psychology: Counseling, 2015This study used ( N = 308 ) participants to examine the relationship between parenting styles perceived, current attachment style, and emotion dysregulation in young adults (18-25 yrs old). This study used dimensions of attachment (anxious/avoidant) and dimensions of mother and father parenting styles (overprotection/care) in relation to the overall score of emotion dysregulation according to the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). To measure attachment, the Experience in Close Relationships Scale-Revised (ECR-R) was used and for parenting styles, the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) was utilized. These measures were each chosen for their accessibility to researchers and clinicians. \ud The measures were compiled into one survey using SurveyMonkey?? and distributed online using social networking sites and college webpages for psychological research. Parenting styles were more significantly related to scores of anxious attachment than avoidant attachment scores and hypotheses that low scores of parental care would be related to high scores on anxious/avoidant attachment was supported even though the relationship was rather weak. Attachment scores on anxiety and avoidance were strongly related to emotion dysregulation with anxiety being more strongly related than avoidant. \ud Parenting styles were more highly related to emotion dysregulation than they were to attachment dimensions. However, when examining the ?? weights after a multiple regression analysis, attachment was shown to be more strongly predictive of emotion dysregulation than parenting styles. \ud In conclusion, most hypotheses were supported and show a significant relationship between parenting styles and attachment styles as well as emotion dysregulation in young adult populations. Attachment was strongly related to emotion dysregulation and was more predictive than parenting styles. The measures used in this study are accessible for use by clinicians and the research supports a significant relationship between these variables. As these variables are already a part of many theoretical frameworks for therapy modalities, these measures could be used to track treatment progress and assist with case conceptualizations. This study also supports further research into the relationship between parenting styles, attachment, and emotion dysregulation in a population at high risk for mental illness