J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2002 Mar;41(2):274-282.

Attachment and Behavior Problems in Adolescents: Internalizing and Externalizing Problems

• Lee SH
• Noh KS
• Sohn SH
• Oak J
• Kim KI

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between attachment and behavior problems in adolescents. METHOD: A sample of 792 high school students were examined. Revised Adult Attachment Scale, Self-report Attachment Style, Youth Self-Report Child Behavior Checklist (YSR) were used to measure the attachment quality, the attachment pattern and the behavior problems respectively.
RESULTS
As to the attachment quality, high score in fear of rejection, low dependability and low intimacy were related to the development of adolescent's internalizing problems. As to the attachment pattern, preoccupied and fearful with attachment experience were linked to the internalizing behavior problems of higher level as well as 'Attention problems' and 'Aggressive behavior' sub-scales of externalizing ones on YSR.
CONCLUSION
High fear of rejection, low dependability and low intimacy characterise the insecure attachment. So the insecure attachment might predict the development of all internalizing behavior problems, attention problems and aggressive behavior in adolescents. Also the result suggested that the adolescents classified as Dismissing attachment may have a positive view of the self and may minimize the self reported behavior problems.

Keyword

Attachment; Behavior problem; Adolescence

MeSH Terms

Adolescent*
Adult
Checklist
Child
Child Behavior
Humans
Self Report