We propose a longitudinal study to comprehensively examine how mothers' insecure states of mind in the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) create risk for adolescent children. The sample of 13-year-old adolescents and their mothers will be recruited from an ongoing longitudinal study of Head Start children and from lists of school children qualifying for federally assisted lunch programs. We hypothesize mothers' insecure states of mind increases their reactivity to stressful situations and leaves them and their offspring vulnerable to problems in adaptation. Biological correlates of AAI status will be used to determine whether insecure states of mind are accompanied by dysregulation of the stress sensitive hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) system. Psychosocial correlates of AAI status will be assessed with standardized measures of cognitive function, dissociative symptoms, and personality. We will then test our intergenerational transmission hypothesis by considering how mothers' insecure states of mind influence children's trajectories toward increased psychiatric and problem behaviors during early adolescence. Adolescent adaptation will be comprehensively assessed with respect to salient developmental tasks (peer relationships, school/job achievement, autonomous attachment), problem behaviors (substance abuse, delinquency, and unprotected sexual activity) and emotional difficulties (internalizing, extemalizing, and dissociative symptoms) at ages 13, 14 and 15. We use a contextual risk model to specify factors that may moderate and mediate intergenerational transmission of attachment. This model identifies both family level factors (family instability and family emotional climate) and mother-teen relationship variables (harsh parenting, monitoring, and parent-teen communication) as risk factors for child problems. In addition, we will use our Head Start sub-sample to examine how maternal AAI status is associated with the child's developmental history based upon assessments of mother-child interaction at ages 4-5 and child symptoms at ages 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 and 10- 11.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01MH059670-01A2
Application #
6262726
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-RPHB-1 (01))
Program Officer
Delcarmen-Wiggins, Rebecca
Project Start
2001-05-01
Project End
2006-04-30
Budget Start
2001-05-01
Budget End
2002-04-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
$375,000
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Delaware
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
059007500
City
Newark
State
DE
Country
United States
Zip Code
19716
Kobak, Roger; Zajac, Kristyn; Abbott, Caroline et al. (2017) Atypical dimensions of caregiver-adolescent interaction in an economically disadvantaged sample. Dev Psychopathol 29:405-416
Herres, Joanna; Ewing, E Stephanie Krauthamer; Kobak, Roger (2016) Emotional Reactivity to Negative Adult and Peer Events and the Maintenance of Adolescent Depressive Symptoms: a Daily Diary Design. J Abnorm Child Psychol 44:471-81
Kobak, Roger; Herres, Joanna; Gaskins, Clare et al. (2012) Teacher-student interactions and attachment states of mind as predictors of early romantic involvement and risky sexual behaviors. Attach Hum Dev 14:289-303
Rosenthal, Natalie L; Kobak, Roger (2010) Assessing Adolescents' Attachment Hierarchies: Differences Across Developmental Periods and Associations With Individual Adaptation. J Res Adolesc 20:678-706
Kobak, Roger; Zajac, Kristyn; Smith, Clare (2009) Adolescent attachment and trajectories of hostile-impulsive behavior: implications for the development of personality disorders. Dev Psychopathol 21:839-51
Kobak, Roger (2009) Defining and measuring of attachment bonds: comment on Kurdek (2009). J Fam Psychol 23:447-9; discussion 450-1
Kobak, Roger; Zajac, Kristyn; Levine, Seymour (2009) Cortisol and antisocial behavior in early adolescence: the role of gender in an economically disadvantaged sample. Dev Psychopathol 21:579-91
Zajac, Kristyn; Kobak, Roger (2009) Caregiver unresolved loss and abuse and child behavior problems: intergenerational effects in a high-risk sample. Dev Psychopathol 21:173-87
Kobak, Roger; Rosenthal, Natalie L; Zajac, Kristyn et al. (2007) Adolescent attachment hierarchies and the search for an adult pair-bond. New Dir Child Adolesc Dev :57-72
Esposito, Alison J; Kobak, Roger; Little, Michelle (2005) Aggression and self-esteem: a diary study of children's reactivity to negative interpersonal events. J Pers 73:887-906

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