Father Attachment Predicts Adolescent Girls' Social and Emotional Development

118 Pages·2014·0.72 MB·English

by  Reena Sandhu

Antioch University
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Dissertations & Theses
2014
Father Attachment Predicts Adolescent Girls' Social
and Emotional Development
Reena Sandhu
Antioch University - Seattle
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Sandhu, Reena, "Father Attachment Predicts Adolescent Girls' Social and Emotional Development" (2014).Dissertations & Theses. 93.
http://aura.antioch.edu/etds/93
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Father Attachment Predicts Adolescent Girls’ Social and Emotional Development
A Dissertation

Presented to the Faculty of

Antioch University Seattle

Seattle, WA

In Partial Fulfillment

Of the Requirements of the Degree

Doctor of Psychology

By

Reena Sandhu

February 2014
Father Attachment Predicts adolescent Girls’ Social and Emotional Development

This dissertation, by Reena Sandhu, has
been approved by the committee members signed below
who recommend that it be accepted by the faculty of the
Antioch University Seattle at Seattle, WA in partial fulfillment
of requirements for the degree of

DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY

Dissertation Committee:

____________________________
Mary Wieneke, Ph.D.
Chairperson

________________________
Patricia Linn, Ph.D.

________________________
Lisa Ferrari, Psy.D.

________________________
February 15, 2014
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Copyright by Reena Sandhu, 2014
All Rights Reserved
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Abstract
Father Attachment Predicts Adolescent Girls’ Social and Emotional Development
Reena Sandhu
Antioch University Seattle
Seattle, WA
The principle focus of research on parental attachment and involvement has been about
mothers and their young children, with the role of fathers relatively neglected. In addition,
the study of father–child relational processes during the adolescent period has been
meager, compared to mother–child influences during adolescence. The few studies on
father–adolescent relationships rarely focused on the father–daughter attachment bond.
This research study aimed primarily to consider the nature of father attachment on the
social and emotional development of adolescent girls. The variables of interest were
Father Attachment, Social Problems, Social Competence, and Internalizing Behavioral
Problems, as perceived by adolescent girls. The archival survey data for this study were
gathered from 246 adolescent females between the ages of 14 and 16 years old who
participated in Ferrari’s 2008 study on “Attachment, personal resources and coping in
trait-anxious adolescent girls.” Results supported the proposed hypotheses, revealing
statistically significant correlations among perceived quality of Father Attachment, and
adolescent girls’ Social Competence, Social Problems, and Internalizing Behavioral
Problems. Together, Father Attachment, Social Competence and Social Problems
accounted for over half of the variance (54.5%) of Internalizing Behavioral Problems. In
addition, Father Attachment and Social Problems each uniquely predicted Internalizing
Behavioral Problems in a standard multiple regression analysis. However, once Father
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Attachment and Social Problems were accounted for, the relationship between Social
Competence and Internalizing Behavioral Problems was no longer significant.
Incorporating these findings in prevention and treatment programs could prove to be
crucial, particularly for programs aimed at promoting emotional well being among
adolescent girls. The electronic version of this dissertation is at OhioLink ETD Center,
www.ohiolink.edu/etd
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Dedication
With respect and high regard, I dedicate this work to my late grandfather who
paved the road for higher education. To my Girn and Sandhu parents, for supporting my
dreams and instilling in me the belief that anything is possible. And to my husband, Amit,
for making everything possible.

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Acknowledgements
It is with much gratitude that I would like to acknowledge those who have helped
me throughout this process. Thank you to my dissertation chair, Dr. Mary Wieneke for
believing in my ideas and providing me with nurturance to get through the hurdles. To
committee member, Dr. Pat Linn, for challenging me to understand bivariate correlations
and multiple regression analysis. With your encouragement and guidance, my
quantitative statistic skills have made me a more knowledgeable Psychologist. I am
especially appreciative of my external committee member, Dr. Lisa Ferrari who
generously offered me her research data. Your support and encouragement were
indispensable to the success of this project. Also, a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Susan Hunt
for introducing me to Dr. Ferrari. As a team, you both have helped me reach my goal to
become a Psychologist.
I would also like to acknowledge quantitative statistician, Jenny Chuang. I am
deeply grateful to you for your passion and patience of having this project succeed. I owe
the success of my defense to the countless hours that you tutored me over Skype, while
you were in Taipei.
I am deeply grateful to my family for their love and support through this process.
To my Girn parents for raising me to believe in myself and encouraging me to make it
through 11 years of graduate level training in psychology. To my Sandhu parents for
understanding the importance of education and providing me with the space and support
to reach my dreams. To Arvin, Kelly, Prit, Aria, Amaya, and Pavel thank you for always
reminding me to laugh and teaching me how to relax during the stressful times.
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With greatest thanks to my loving husband, Amit for being my rock and stability
throughout this process. From helping me with my application into the doctoral program
to supporting me at my defense, your faith and belief in me was apparent every step of
way. Thank you for being my biggest fan.

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Table of Contents Page
Dedication……………………………………………………………………………...vii
Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………………viii
List of Tables ................................................................................................................. xiii
List of Figures ............................................................................................................... xiiii
Chapter I: Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1
Research Questions .................................................................................................. 4
Hypothesis ............................................................................................................... 5
Operational Definitions............................................................................................ 5
Chapter II: Literature Review ........................................................................................... 9
The Attachment System ........................................................................................... 9
The Quality of Father Attachment on Children’s Social Development ................. 13
Parental and Peer Attachment During Adolescence .............................................. 22
Adolescent-Female Peer Attachment and Social Stress ........................................ 30
Adolescent Female Peer Attachment and Internalizing Behavioral Problems ...... 36
The Influence of Father Attachment on Adolescent Girls’ Internalizing Behavioral
Problems ................................................................................................................ 46
Summary ................................................................................................................ 52
Clinical Relevance of the Current Study ............................................................... 53
Chapter III: Methods ....................................................................................................... 57
Description of Instruments..................................................................................... 57
Justification for the Use of the Measures............................................................... 59
Participants From Archived Data .......................................................................... 62
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