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The Influence of Representations of Attachment, Maternal–Adolescent Relationship Quality, and Maternal Monitoring on Adolescent Substance Use: A 2‐Year Longitudinal Examination
Author(s) -
Branstetter Steven A.,
Furman Wyndol,
Cottrell Lesley
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2009.01344.x
Subject(s) - psychology , developmental psychology , parenting styles , substance use , attachment theory , longitudinal study , substance abuse , adolescent development , clinical psychology , statistics , mathematics , psychiatry
The present study examined the hypotheses that more secure representations of attachments to parents are associated with less adolescent substance use over time and that this link is mediated through relationship quality and monitoring. A sample of 200 adolescents ( M = 14–16 years), their mothers, and close friends were assessed over 2 years. Higher levels of security in attachment styles, but not states of mind, were predictive of higher levels of monitoring and support and lower levels of negative interactions. Higher levels of security in attachment styles had an indirect effect on changes in substance use over time, mediated by maternal monitoring. These findings highlight the roles of representations of attachments, mother–adolescent relationship qualities, and monitoring in the development of adolescent substance use.