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Perceived attachment with mother and father in a sample of youth with suicidal ideation
Dissertation   Open access

Perceived attachment with mother and father in a sample of youth with suicidal ideation

Katherine Lynn Vaughan
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
Sep 2020
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00000207
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Abstract

Family psychotherapy Teenagers--Suicidal behavior Parent and teenager
Suicide is a worldwide health concern, and rates of suicide are increasing in youth. Systemic factors, such as family dynamics, have been found to have positive and/or negative impacts on individuals' general wellbeing. For that reason, this dissertation explores youth's perception of attachment with both their mother and their father and how that attachment predicts higher scores of suicidal ideation. Method: Participants involved are youth between the ages of 12 and 18 (n = 127; M = 14.94 years; SD = 1.66 years). Youth included males (n = 21; 16.5%) and females (n = 106; 83.5%). Baseline data on youth's scores on the Experiences in Close Relationship - Relationship Structure (ECR-RS) and monthly version of the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire - Junior (SIQ-JR) were used. Results: Youth's attachment styles with their mother were found to be approximately half secure and half insecure. Youth's attachment styles with their father were found to be more insecure than secure. Youth's scores of avoidant tendencies in attachment with their mother and father were significantly higher than their scores of anxious tendencies. When comparing youth's scores of anxious tendencies of attachment with their mother and father, scores were positively correlated. Similarly, scores of avoidant tendencies in attachment with their mother and father were positively correlated. Only scores of anxious tendencies in attachment with their father predicted suicidal ideation. Discussion: In youth's attachment styles and scores, differences were found between gender parents. More research on attachment with fathers and its relationship to suicidal ideation is needed.

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