PARENT ATTACHMENT AND EARLY ADOLESCENTS' LIFE SATISFACTION: THE MEDIATING EFFECT OF HOPE
Abstract
Research examining interpersonal relationship factors associated with adolescents' subjective well-being has identified a number of predictors of adolescents' life satisfaction (LS). Among these studies, research using attachment theory framework has provided evidence that parent attachment is one of the crucial determinants of psychological adjustment in adolescents, including life satisfaction. Literature also suggests that parental attachment has a direct and positive influence on cognitive-motivational factors, such as hope, which might serve as a mediator between parent attachment and LS. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the interrelationship among parent attachment, hope and LS during early adolescence, and explore the mediation effect of hope in the relationship between parent attachment and LS in early adolescents. A sample of 565 middle school students in grades 6 through 8 completed self-report measures assessing these constructs. Results showed statistically significant relationships between all three variables, and hope mediated the relationship between parent attachment and LS. Implications of findings are discussed.