Adolescents under stress: Emotional neglect and detachment in a three-wave analysis

Abstract

Adolescents encounter challenges in managing stress, with early emotional experiences playing a role in shaping resilience. Emotional neglect (EN) and detachment contribute to stress during this developmental period, yet their long-term consequences require further exploration. This study investigates how EN and detachment influence adolescent stress over time. A cohort of 1787 Italian adolescents (mean age = 15.47, SD = 1.09) participated in a longitudinal study conducted across three time points. Data collection occurred at baseline (T1), six months later (T2), and one year after the initial assessment (T3). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to assess bidirectional relationships and mediation effects. The findings indicated that EN consistently predicted detachment and stress, with detachment also serving as a predictor of stress. Notable mediation effects emerged, such as EN at T1 indirectly predicting stress at T3 through EN at T2, detachment at T2, and stress at T2. Similarly, detachment at T1 forecasted stress at T3 via detachment at T2 and stress at T2. These results emphasize the necessity of early emotional support and the importance of interventions targeting neglect and detachment. This study enhances our understanding of adolescent emotional well-being and stress adaptation, providing practical applications for clinical and educational contexts.