Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Role of Attachment in the Life Aspirations of Portuguese Adolescents in Residential Care: The Mediating Effect of Emotion Regulation

  • Published:
Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Quality of attachment relationships developed within an institutional environment may be a risk or protective factor for the creation of life aspirations and for emotion regulation abilities among adolescents in residential care contexts. The present study aims to analyze the predictive role of attachment on life aspirations for adolescents in a residential care context, as well as to test the mediating effect of emotion regulation difficulties in this association. The sample included 296 adolescents living in Residential Care facilities in Portugal, with ages raging between 12 and 18 (M = 15.30, SD = 1.76), being 71.6% female. Self-report measures included the Experiences in Close Relationships, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, the Aspiration Index, and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Attachment figure negatively predicts the importance of life aspirations, while difficulties in emotional regulation mediate the association between attachment and life aspirations. Associations of length of institutionalization and age of entrance on residential care were tested and discussed. Practical implications were considered highlighting the importance of intervention with young people, the family, and caregivers in residential care.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahrens, K. R., DuBois, D. L., Garrison, M., Spencer, R., Richardson, L. P., & Lozano, P. (2011). Qualitative exploration of relationships with important non-parental adults in the lives of youth in foster care. Children and Youth Services Review, 33(6), 1012–1023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.01.006

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ainsworth, M. D. S. (1969). Object relations, dependency, and attachment: Theoretical review of the infant-mother relationship. Child Development, 40, 969–1026.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baker, A. J., Archer, M., & Curtis, P. A. (2005). Age and gender differences in emotional and behavioural problems during the transition to residential treatment: The Odyssey Project. International Journal of Social Welfare, 14(3), 184–194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Batki, A. (2018). The impact of early institutional care on emotion regulation: Studying the play narratives of post-institutionalized and early adopted children. Early Child Development and Care, 188(12), 1801–1815.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beal, S. J., & Crockett, L. J. (2010). Adolescent’s occupational and educational aspirations and expectations: links to high school activities and adult educational attainment. Developmental Psychology, 46(1), 258–265. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017416

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Benavente, R., Justo, J., & Veríssimo, M. (2009). Os efeitos dos maus-tratos e da negligência sobre as representações da vinculação em crianças de idade pré-escolar. Análise Psicológica, 27(1), 21–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bollen, K. A. (1989). Structural equations with latent variables. Wiley.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss. Penguin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). Contexts of child rearing: Problems and prospects. American Psychologist, 34(10), 844–850.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caspi, A. (2000). The child is father to the man: Personality continuities from childhood to adulthood. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78, 158–172. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.78.1.158

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cassidy, J. (1994). Emotion regulation: Influences of attachment relationships. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 59, 228–283.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cavalcante, L. I. C., & Magalhães, C. M. C. (2017). Relações de apego no contexto da institucionalização na infância e da adoção tardia. Psicologia Argumento, 30(68), 75–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carvalho, H., Mota, C. P., Santos, B., Costa, M., & Matos, P. M. (in press). From chaos to normalization and deconfinement: What did the pandemic unveiled in youth residential care. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-021-00808-2

  • Conceição, A., & Carvalho, M. (2014). Problemas emocionais e comportamentais em jovens: relações com o temperamento, as estratégias de coping e de regulação emocional e a identificação de expressões faciais. Psychologica, 56, 83–100. https://doi.org/10.14195/1647-8606_56_5

  • Costa, M., Matos, P. M., & Mota, C. P. (2020). Validation of a portuguese version of the Aspiration Index for Adolescents (AI). The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 23, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1017/SJP.2020.22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costa, M., Mota, C. P., & Matos, P. M. (2019). Predictors of psychosocial adjustment in adolescents in residential care: A systematic review. Child Care in Practice. https://doi.org/10.1080/13575279.2019.1680533

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Courtney, M. E., Dworsky, A. L., Cusick, G. R., Havlicek, J., Perez, A., & Keller, T. E. (2007). Midwest evaluation of the adult functioning of former foster youth: outcomes at age 21. Chapin Hall Center.

  • Coutinho, J., Ribeiro, E., Ferreirinha, R., & Dias, P. (2010). Versão portuguesa da Escala de Dificuldades de Regulação Emocional e sua relação com sintomas psicopatológicos [The Portuguese version of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale and its relationship with psychopathological symptoms]. Revista Psiquiatria Clínica, 37(4), 145–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cuevas, C., Wolff, K. T., & Baglivio, M. T. (2017). Self-efficacy, aspirations, and residential placement outcomes: Why belief in a prosocial self matters. Journal of Criminal Justice, 52, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2017.06.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Creed, P., Tilbury, C., Buys, N., & Crawford, M. (2011). The career aspirations and action behaviors of Australian adolescents in out-of-home-care. Children and Youth Services Review, 33(9), 1720–1729.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dalbem, J. X., & Dell’Aglio, D. D. (2005). Teoria do apego: Bases conceituais e desenvolvimento dos modelos internos de funcionamento. Arquivos Brasileiros De Psicologia, 57(1), 12–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dell'Aglio, D. D., & Hutz, C. S. (2004). Depressão e desempenho escolar em crianças e adolescentes institucionalizados. Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica, 17(3), 351–357.

  • D´Aroz, M., & Stoltz, T. (2012). O cuidado institucional na visão de adolescentes acolhidos. Revista Brasileira Adolescência e Conflitualidade, (6), 198–220. https://doi.org/10.17921/2176-5626.n6p%25p

  • Delgado, P., & Gersão, E. (2018). O acolhimento de crianças e jovens no novo quadro legal: Novos discursos, novas práticas? [The residential care of children and young people in the new legal framework: New discourses, new practices?] Análise Social, https://doi.org/10.31447/AS00032573.2018226.05

  • Derks, J., Lee, N. C., & Krabbendam, L. (2014). Adolescent trust and trustworthiness: Role of gender and social value orientation. Journal of Adolescence, 37(8), 1379–1386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2014.09.014

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E. (2000). Subjective well-being: The science of happiness and a proposal for a national index. American Psychologist, 55(1), 34–43.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fernandes, A., & Oliveira-Monteiro, N. (2016). Psychological indicators and perceptions of adolescents in residential care. Paidéia, 63, 81–89. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-43272663201610

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fraley, R. C., Heffernan, M. E., Vicary, A. M., & Brumbaugh, C. C. (2011). The experiences in close relationships – Relationship structures questionnaire: A method for assessing attachment orientations across relationships. Psychological Assessment, 23(3), 615–625. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022898

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Franco, M. D. G. S. D., Costa, E., & Santos, N. N. (2015). Desenvolvimento da compreensão emocional. Psicologia: Teoria e Pesquisa, 31(3), 339–348. https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-37722015032099339348

  • Freire, T., & Tavares, D. (2011). Influência da autoestima, da regulação emocional e do gênero no bem-estar subjetivo e psicológico de adolescentes. Archives of Clinical Psychiatry, 38(5), 184–188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galinha, I. C. (2010). Bem-estar subjectivo: factores cognitivos, afectivos e contextuais. Placebo.

  • Gaspar, J. P. M., Santos, E. J., & Alcoforado, J. L. M. (2015). Desafios da autonomização: Estudo das transições segundo jovens adultos ex institucionalizados. Psicologia Clínica, 27(1), 59–81. https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-56652015000100004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gonçalves, J., Moura, F., Jr., Dell’Aglio, D., & Castellá Sarriera, J. (2013). Expectativas quanto ao futuro de adolescentes em diferentes contextos. Acta Colombiana De Psicologia, 16(1), 91–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorrese, A., & Ruggieri, R. (2012). Peer attachment: A meta-analytic review of gender and age differences and associations with parent attachment. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 41(5), 650–672. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-012-9759-6

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gratz, K. L., & Roemer, L. (2004). Multidimensional assessment of emotion regulation and dysregulation: Development, factor structure and initial validation of the difficulties in emotion regulation scale. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 26(1), 41–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gross, J. J., & John, O. P. (2003). Individual differences in two emotion regulation processes: Implications for affect, relationships, and well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85(2), 348–362.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, M. M., Blom, M., Rohner, R. P., & Britner, P. A. (2005). Bridging parental acceptance-rejection theory and attachment theory in the preschool strange situation. Ethos, 33(3), 378–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Instituto de Segurança Social, I.P. (2020). CASA 2019 – Relatório de Caracterização Anual da Situação de Acolhimento das Crianças e Jovens [The Children and Young People's Annual Childcare Status Report]. ISSIP. https://www.seg-social.pt/documents/10152/17405298/Relatório%20CASA%202019/0bf7ca2b-d8a9-44d2-bff7-df1f111dc7ee

  • Instituto de Segurança Social, I.P. (2021). CASA 2020 – Relatório de Caracterização Anual da Situação de Acolhimento das Crianças e Jovens [The Children and Young People's Annual Childcare Status Report]. ISSIP. https://www.seg-social.pt/documents/10152/13200/CASA+2020.pdf/b7f02f58-2569-4165-a5ab-bed9efdb2653

  • Kasser, T., & Ryan, R. M. (1996). Further examining the American dream: Differential correlates of intrinsic and extrinsic goals. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 22(3), 280–287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kasser, T., Rosenblum, K. L., Sameroff, A. J., Deci, E. L., Niemiec, C. P., Ryan, R. M., & Hawks, S. (2014). Changes in materialism, changes in psychological well- being: Evidence from three longitudinal studies and an intervention experiment. Motivation and Emotion, 38(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-013-9371-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, J., & Cicchetti, D. (2010). Longitudinal pathways linking child maltreatment, emotion regulation, peer relations, and psychopathology. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 51(6), 706–716.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laible, D. (2007). Attachment with parents and peers in late adolescence: Links with emotional competence and social behavior. Personality and Individual Differences, 43(5), 1185–1197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lemos, S. D. C. A. (2017). Os vínculos afetivos no contexto de acolhimento institucional: um estudo de campo. Psicologia Teoria e Pesquisa, 33(1), 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, D., Chng, G. S., & Chu, C. M. (2017). Comparing long-term placement outcomes of residential and family foster care: A meta-analysis. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 20(5), 653–664. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838017726427

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lino, A., & Nobre-Lima, L. (2017). Emotional dysregulation as a predictor of peer attachment perceptions of adolescents in residential care. Psychologica, 60(1), 1–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lopes, P. N., Salovey, P., Côté, S., & Beers, M. (2005). Emotion regulation ability and the quality of social interaction. Emotion, 5, 113–118.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Massey, E. K., Gebhardt, W. A., & Garnefski, N. (2008). Adolescent goal content and pursuit: A review of the literature from the past 16 years. Review of Development, 28(4), 421–460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2008.03.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Melkman, E., Refaeli, T., & Benbenishty, R. (2016). An empirical test of a model of academic expectations among youth in residential care. Children and Youth Services Review, 67, 133–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.05.023

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morais, M. F., Santos, B., Mota, C. P., Matos, P. M., Costa, M., & Carvalho, H. (2022). Adolescência e saúde mental no acolhimento residencial: Retrato de uma década em Portugal [Adolescence and mental health in residential care: Portrait of a decade in Portugal]. Psicoperspectivas. https://doi.org/10.5027/vol.21-issue1-fulltext-2286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moreira, H., Martins, T., Gouveia, M. J., & Canavarro, M. C. (2015). Assessing adult attachment across different contexts: Validation of the Portuguese version of the experiences in close relationships – Relationship structures questionnaire. Journal of Personality Assessment, 97, 22–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223891.2014.950377

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, J., & Robinson, O. (2013). Intrinsic aspirations and personal meaning across adulthood: Conceptual interrelations and age/sex differences. Developmental Psychology, 49(5), 999–1010. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0029237

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morris, A. S., Silk, J. S., Steinberg, L., Myers, S. S., & Robinson, L. R. (2007). The role of the family context in the development of emotion regulation. Social Development, 16(2), 361–388.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mota, C. P., Costa, M., & Matos, P. M. (2016). Resilience and deviant behavior among institutionalized adolescents: The relationship with significant adults. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 33(4), 313–325. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-015-0429-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mota, C. P., & Matos, P. M. (2008). Adolescência e institucionalização numa perspetiva de vinculação. Psicologia e Sociedade, 20(3), 367–377.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mota, C. P., & Matos, P. M. (2010). Adolescentes institucionalizados: O papel das figuras significativas na predição da assertividade, empatia e autocontrolo. Análise Psicológica, 28(2), 245–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mota, C. P., & Matos, P. M. (2015). Adolescents in institutional care: Significant adults, resilience, and well-being. Child and Youth Care Forum, 44(2), 209–224. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-014-9278-6

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Mota, C. P., & Oliveira, I. (2017). O suporte social e a personalidade são significativos para os objetivos de vida de adolescentes de diferentes configurações familiares? Análise Psicológica, 35(4), 425–438.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Neves, S., Martins, E., Magalhães, C., Fernandes, R., & Mendes, F. (2016). Instituição, regulação emocional e satisfação com a vida numa amostra de adolescentes portugueses. In Congresso Internacional de Psicologia da Criança e do Adolescente, (pp. 52–53).

  • Nurmi, J. E. (1991). How do adolescents see their future? A review of the development of future orientation and planning. Developmental Review, 11(1), 1–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nurmi, J. E., Salmela-Aro, K., & Aunola, K. (2009). Personal goal appraisals vary across both individuals and goal contents. Personality and Individual Differences, 47(5), 498–503.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Connor, T. G., Rutter, M., Beckett, C., Keaveney, L., & Kreppner, J. M. (2000). The effects of global severe privation on cognitive competence: Extension and longitudinal follow-up. Child Development, 71(2), 376–390.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oriol, X., Sala-Roca, J., & Filella, G. (2014). Emotional competences of adolescents in residential care: analysis of emotional difficulties for intervention. Children and Youth Services Review, 44, 334–340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2014.06.009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pietromonaco, P. R., & Barrett, L. F. (2000). Attachment theory as an organizing framework: A view from different levels of analysis. Review of General Psychology, 4(2), 107–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pinhel, J., Torres, N., & Maia, J. (2009). Crianças institucionalizadas e crianças em meio familiar de vida: Representações de vinculação e problemas de comportamento associado. Análise Psicológica, 27(4), 509–521.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ringle, J. L., Ingram, S. D., & Thompson, R. W. (2010). The association between length of stay in residential care and educational achievement: Results from 5-and 16-year follow-up studies. Children and Youth Services Review, 32(7), 974–980. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2010.03.022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, L. R., Morris, A. S., Heller, S. S., Scheeringa, M. S., Boris, N. W., & Smyke, A. T. (2009). Relations between emotion regulation, parenting, and psychopathology in young maltreated children in out of home care. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 18(4), 421–434.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rose, A. J., & Rudolph, K. D. (2006). A review of sex differences in peer relationship processes: Potential trade-offs for the emotional and behavioral development of girls and boys. Psychological Bulletin, 132(1), 98–131.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Shaw, J. (2014). Why do young people offend in children’s homes? Research, theory and practice. British Journal of Social Work, 44(7), 1823–1839. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bct047

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seginer, R. (2009). Future orientation: Developmental and ecological perspectives. Springer Science & Business Media.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Silva, A. R., Melo, O., & Mota, C. P. (2016). Suporte social e individuação em jovens de diferentes configurações familiares. Temas Em Psicologia, 24(4), 1311–1327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siqueira, A. C., Betts, M. K., & Dell’Aglio, D. D. (2006). A rede de apoio social e afetivo de adolescentes institucionalizados no sul do Brasil. Revista Interamericana De Psicologia, 40(2), 149–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sulimani-Aidan, Y., & Benbenishty, R. (2011). Future expectations of adolescents in residential care in Israel. Children and Youth Services Review, 33, 1134–1141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.02.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thoburn, J., & Featherstone, B. (2019). Adoption, child rescue, maltreatment and poverty’. In S. A. Webb (Ed.), The Routledge handbook of critical social work (pp. 401–411). Routledge.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, R. A. (1994). Emotion regulation: A theme in search of definition. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 59(240), 25–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van IJzendoorn, M. H., Palacios, J., Sonuga-Barke, E. J. S., Gunnar, M. R., Vorria, P., McCall, R. B., Juffer, F. (2011). Children in institutional care: Delayed developmentand resilience. In R. B. Mc Call, M. H. van IJzendoorn, F. Juffer, C. J. Groark, & V. K.Groza (Eds.), Children without permanent parents: Research, practice and policy. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 76(4), 8–30. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5834.2011.00626.x

  • Yamasaki, S., Nishida, A., Ando, S., Murayama, K., Hiraiwa-Hasegawa, M., Kasai, K., & Richards, M. (2021). Interaction of adolescent aspirations and self-control on wellbeing in old age: Evidence from a six-decade longitudinal UK birth cohort. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 16(6), 779–788. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2020.1818809

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yunes, M. A., Miranda, A. T., & Cuello, S. S. (2004). Um olhar ecológico para os riscos e as oportunidades de desenvolvimento de crianças e adolescentes institucionalizados. In S. Koller (Ed.), Ecologia do desenvolvimento humano: Pesquisa e intervenções no Brasil (pp. 197–218). Casa do Psicólogo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeira, A., & Dekel, R. (2005). The self-image of adolescents and its relationship to their perceptions of the future. International Social Work, 48(2), 177–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the FCT funded project CareMe (PTDC/PSI-ESP/28653/2017).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Education and Psychology, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Escola de Ciências Humanas e Sociais, Polo I, 5000-801, Vila Real, Portugal

    Catarina Pinheiro Mota & Tatiana Gonçalves

  2. Centre for Psychology at University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Catarina Pinheiro Mota, Helena Carvalho & Mónica Costa

  3. Faculty of Psychology and Sciences Education, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Helena Carvalho & Mónica Costa

Authors
  1. Catarina Pinheiro Mota
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tatiana Gonçalves
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Helena Carvalho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mónica Costa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

CPM: methodology, formal analysis, writing—review and editing, funding acquisition. TG: methodology, formal analysis, writing original draft. HC: writing—review and editing. MC: writing—review and editing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Catarina Pinheiro Mota.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mota, C.P., Gonçalves, T., Carvalho, H. et al. The Role of Attachment in the Life Aspirations of Portuguese Adolescents in Residential Care: The Mediating Effect of Emotion Regulation. Child Adolesc Soc Work J 41, 33–42 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-022-00825-9

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-022-00825-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation