A life-span comparison of early attachment experiences to current attachment and psychological well-being in an elderly population /
Past attachment research has narrowly focused primarily on early childhood, adolescence and to a lesser degree, young adult romantic relations. As demographics change and individual life span continues to increase, a study describing attachments in old age is needed. A growing body of research has e...
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
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[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
2000.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=727721011&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD |
| Summary: | Past attachment research has narrowly focused primarily on early childhood, adolescence and to a lesser degree, young adult romantic relations. As demographics change and individual life span continues to increase, a study describing attachments in old age is needed. A growing body of research has embarked on investigating current attachments in the elderly and their relationship to psychological well being. Current attachment styles are believed to be based on the vestiges of the original attachment one had with their primary caregiver(s). Using instruments combining Bowlby's and Erikson's theories, 191 individuals over 65 years of age completed questionnaires assessing recalled parental care, current attachments, the achievement of basic trust vs. mistrust and ego-integrity vs. despair, and their collaborative effects on mental health and current attachment. Relations with siblings, marital partners, and adult children were hypothesized to moderate the original attachment figures and act as "buffers" to diminished mental health and help facilitate healthier ego development. Three separate univariate regression analyses were used to measure this study's outcome variables (i.e., depression, trait anxiety, and social support). When all the hypothesized predictors were used in the model, the squared R-values (effect sizes) were 40.8% for depression, 45.6% for trait anxiety, and 33.1% for social support. These were all statistically significant at the p < .001 level. A canonical correlation was conducted with .60% of the variance of the dependent measures being accounted for by the predictors involving early childhood factors. That too was statistically significant at the p < .001 level. This is a strikingly large effect size, and these findings have implications at a general social policy level, as well as an individual therapeutic one. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major Subject: Counseling Psychology". |
| Physical Description: | ix, 139 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm. Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilm Inc. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 114-138). |