Adolescents in Divorced Families: The Interplay of Attachment Patterns, Family Environment, and Personal Characteristics

The study examined adolescents (N = 230) in divorced families in relation to the adolescent’s attachment pattern, family environment, and personal characteristics. The findings revealed significant direct links of attachment patterns. Avoidant and anxious attachment patterns were found to influence adolescent loneliness, neuroticism, and well-being. Family environment factors of family cohesion, family flexibility, inter-parental conflict, and parent-child relationships significantly impacted adolescents’ social and emotional adjustment. Personal characteristics (child’s age at the time of divorce, length of time since divorce, and mother’s socioeconomic status) had significant effects on adolescents’ adjustment. Mother-child/ father-child relationships also had mediation effects on adolescents’ adjustment.