Αttachment in adolescence, intergenerational transmission, developmental outcomes and psychopathology.

Abstract

Adolescence (12 to 18 years) represents a critical period of development, wherein attachment undergoes significant changes as individuals navigate new emotional, cognitive, and social challenges and tend to create deeper connections with peers. Αs adolescents seek greater autonomy while simultaneously maintaining bonds with caregivers, attachment studies explore how the attachment system evolves and the factors that have an impact on it. First, we present an overview of several dimensions of attachment in adolescence, like re-organization of internal working models, peer relations, affect regulation, stability, and change of attachment. In addition, we process key points in measures used for attachment in adolescence, self-report and interview-based instruments, reflecting upon the difficulties in capturing the attachment dynamics in this developmental phase. Second, we explore findings about the ways parental state of mind (secure-insecure and unresolved), as well as parental reflective functioning, may influence adolescent attachment via mechanisms of intergenerational transmission. We focus especially on findings from clinical and high-risk samples. Third, we explore the impact that attachment in adolescence has on developmental outcomes and psychopathology. The review focuses on findings from Western culture cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, both on community and clinical samples over the last thirty years (1995-2025). We include studies using only attachment constructs (i.e., excluding parental bonding) and exclude studies on adolescent mothers, adopted adolescents, and case studies. Finally, we reach conclusions in relation to recent developments in the field and future research directions.