Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Perceived Parenting Styles Fail to Mediate Between Anxiety and Attachment Styles in Adult Siblings of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Adult siblings of individuals with developmental disabilities often experience higher levels of anxiety than individuals in the general population. The present study tested whether perceived parenting could mediate the relationship between attachment styles and anxiety in the sibling group compared to a control group. Little association was found between perceived parenting and attachment styles or anxiety for the siblings but there were robust and expected findings for the control. Adult attachment-related-anxiety was a significant unique predictor of anxiety in the sibling group but there was no mediational role for perceived parenting. Conversely, the majority of parenting styles significantly mediated the relationship between attachment and anxiety in the control. Implications for the atypical findings in the sibling group are discussed.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
€32.70 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (Finland)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aka, B. T., & Gencoz, T. (2014). Perceived parenting styles, emotion recognition and regulation in relation to psychological well-being. Procedia, Social and Behavioral Sciences, 159, 529–533. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.12.418.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1173–1182.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bartholomew, K., & Shaver, P. R. (1998). Methods of assessing adult attachment: Do they converge? In J. A. Simpson & W. S. Rholes (Eds.), Attachment theory and close relationships (pp. 25–45). New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bifulco, A., Kwon, J., Jacobs, C., Moran, P. M., Bunn, A., & Beer, N. (2006). Adult attachment style as a mediator between childhood neglect//abuse and adult depression and anxiety. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 41, 796–805. doi:10.1007/s00127-006-0101z.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bogels, S. M., & Brechman-Toussaint, M. L. (2006). Family issues in child anxiety: Attachment, family functioning, parental rearing and beliefs. Clinical Psychology Review, 26, 834–856. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2005.08.001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bourke-Taylor, H., Howie, L., Law, M., & Pallant, J. (2012). Self-reported mental health of mothers with a school aged child with a disability in Victoria: mixed method study. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 48, 153–159. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1754.2011.02060.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bowlby, J. (1982). Attachment and loss: Attachment (2nd ed., Vol. I). New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brennan, K. A., Clark, C. L., & Shaver, P. R. (1998). Self-report measure of adult attachment: An integrative overview. In J. A. Simpson & W. S. Rholes (Eds.), Attachment theory and close relationships (pp. 25–45). New York: The Guilford Press. doi:10.1111/1467-6494.00034.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brennan, K. A., & Shaver, P. R. (1998). Attachment styles and personality disorders: Their connections to each other and to parental divorce, parental death, and perceptions of parental care caregiving. Journal of Personality, 66(5), 835–878.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, A. M., & Whiteside, S. P. (2008). Relations among perceived parental rearing behaviors, attachment style, and worry in anxious children. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 22, 263–272. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2007.02.002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cassidy, J., Lichtenstein-Phelps, J., Sibrava, N. J., Thomas, C. L, Jr., & Borkovec, T. D. (2009). Generalised anxiety disorder: Connections with self-reported attachment. Behavior Therapy, 40, 23–38. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2007.12.004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chaij, C., Han, M., & Graziano, L. (2014). Latino families with a child with Prader-Willi syndrome: Exploring needs for support. Journal of Social Work in Disability and Rehabilitation, 13, 207–225. doi:10.1080/1536710X.2014.912184.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Collins, N. L., & Read, S. J. (1990). Adult attachment, working models, and relationship quality in dating couples. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58, 644–663. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.58.4.644.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dodd, L. W. (2004). Supporting the siblings of young children with disabilities. British Journal of Special Education, 31, 41–49. doi:10.1111/j.0952-3383.2004.00325.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dozier, M., Stovall-McClough, K. C., & Albus, K. E. (2008). Attachment and psychopathology in adulthood. In J. Cassidy & P. R. Shaver (Eds.), Handbook of attachment, theory, research and clinical applications (2nd ed., pp. 718–744). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisenhower, A., Baker, B. L., & Blacher, J. (2005). Preschool children with intellectual disability: Syndrome specificity, behaviour problems and maternal well-being. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 49, 657–671. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2788.2005.00699.x.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Esbensen, A. J., & Seltzer, M. M. (2011). Accounting for the “Down syndrome advantage”. American Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 116, 3–15. doi:10.1352/1944-7558-116.1.3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Falk, N. H., Norris, K., & Quinn, M. G. (2014). The factors predicting stress, anxiety and depression in the parents of children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44, 3185–3203. doi:10.1007/s10803-014-2189-4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gray, K. M., Piccinin, A. M., Hofer, S. M., Mackinnon, A., Bontempo, D. E., Einfeld, S. L., & Tonge, B. J. (2011). The longitudinal relationship between behavior and emotional disturbance in young people with intellectual disability and maternal mental health. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 39, 1194–1204. doi:10.116/j.ridd2010.12.044.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hastings, R. P. (2003a). Brief report: Behavioural adjustment of siblings of children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 33, 99–104. doi:10.1007/s10803-013-1969-6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hastings, R.P. (2003b). Behavioural adjustment of siblings of children with autism engaged in applied behaviour analysis early intervention programs: The moderating role of social support. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 33, 141–150. doi:10.1023/A:1022983209004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hauenstein, E. J. (1990). The experience of distress in parents of chronically ill children: Potentials or likely outcome? Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 19, 356–364.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hinnen, C., Sanderman, R., & Sprangers, M. A. G. (2009). Adult attachment as a mediator between recollections of childhood and satisfaction with life. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 16, 10–21. doi:10.1002/cpp.600.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hodapp, R. M., & Urbano, R. C. (2007). Adult siblings of individuals with down syndrome versus autism: Findings from a large-scale US survey. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 51, 1010–1029. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2788.2007.00994.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, Y. P., Chang, M. Y., Chi, Y. L., & Lai, F. C. (2014). Health-related quality of life in fathers of children with or without developmental disability: the mediating effect of parental stress. Quality of Life Research, 23, 175–183. doi:10.1007/s11136-013-0469-7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kaminsky, L., & Dewey, D. (2001). Sibling relationships of children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31, 399–410.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kerns, K. A., & Brumariu, L. E. (2014). Is insecure parent-child attachment a risk factor for the development of anxiety in childhood or adolescence? Child Development Perspectives, 1, 12–17. doi:10.1111/cdep.12054.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lounds-Taylor, J., Greenberg, J. S., Seltzer, M. M., & Floyd, F. (2008). Siblings of adults with mild intellectual deficits or mental illness: Differential life course outcomes. Journal of Family Psychology, 22, 905–914. doi:10.1037/a0012603.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manassis, K. (2001). Child–parent relations: Attachment and anxiety disorders. In W. K. Silverman & P. D. Treffers (Eds.), Anxiety disorders in children and adolescents: Research, assessment and intervention (pp. 255–272). New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • McHale, S. M., Updegraff, K. A., & Feinberg, M. E. (2016). Siblings of youth with autism spectrum disorders: Theoretical perspectives on sibling relationships and individual adjustment. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46, 589–602. doi:10.1007/s10803-015-2611-6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. (2007). Attachment in adulthood: Structure, dynamics and change. London: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Naylor, A., & Prescott, P. (2004). Invisible children? The need for support groups for siblings of disabled children. British Journal of Special Education, 31, 199–206. doi:10.1111/j.0952-3383.2004.00355.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Neill, L., & Murray, L. (2016). Anxiety and depression symptomatology in adult siblings of individuals with different developmental disability diagnoses. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 51, 116–125. doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2015.12.017.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Orsmond, G. I., & Seltzer, M. M. (2007). Siblings of individuals with autism spectrum disorders across the life course. Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 13, 313–320. doi:10.1002/mrdd.20171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Picardi, A., Caroppo. E., Fabi. E., Proietti, S., Di Gennaro, G., Meldolesi, G.N., & Martinotti, G. (2013). Attachment and parenting in adult patients with anxiety disorders. Clinical Practice & Epidemiology in Mental Health, 9, 157–163. doi:10.2174/1745017901309010157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pilowsky, T., Yirmiya, N., Doppelt, O., Gross-Tsur, V., & Shalev, R. S. (2004). Social and emotional adjustment of siblings of children with autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 45, 855–865. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2004.00277.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reis, S., & Grenyer, B. F. S. (2004). Fearful attachment, working alliance and treatment response for individuals with major depression. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 11, 414–424. doi:10.1002/cpp.428.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roy-Bryne, P. P., Davidson, K. W., Kessler, R. C., Asmundson, G. J. G., Goodwin, R. D., Kubzansky, L., & Stein, M. B. (2008). Anxiety disorders and co-morbid medical illness. General Hospital Psychiatry, 30, 208–225. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2007.12.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shaver, P.R., & Mikulincer, M. (2008). Adult attachment and cognitive and affective reactions to positive and negative events. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 2, 1844–1865.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, J. A., & Belsky, J. (2008). Attachment theory within a modern evolutionary framework. In J. Cassidy & P. R. Shaver (Eds.), Handbook of attachment, second edition: Theory, research, and clinical applications. Guilford: New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, J. A., Campbell, L., & Weisberg, Y. J. (2006). Daily perceptions of conflict and support in romantic relationships: The ups and downs of anxiously attached individuals. In M. Mikulincer & G. S. Goodman (Eds.), Dynamics of romantic love (pp. 216–239). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, L. E., Seltzer, M. M., & Greenberg, J. S. (2012). Daily health symptoms of mothers of adolescents and adults with fragile X syndrome and mothers of adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42, 1836–1846. doi:10.1007/s10803-011-1422-7.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Spinhoven, P., Roelofs, K., Hovens, J. G. F. M., Elzinga, B. M., van Oppen, P., Zitman, F. G., & Pennix, B. W. J. H. (2011). Personality, life events and the course of anxiety and depression. European Journal of Personality, 25, 445–453. doi:10.1002/per.808.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trute, B., Hiebert-Murphy, D., & Levine, K. (2007). Parental appraisal of the family impact of childhood developmental disability: Times of sadness and times of joy. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 32, 1–9. doi:10.1080/13668250601146753.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Turnbull, A. P., & Turnbull, H. R, I. I. I. (1990). Families, professionals, and exceptionality: A special partnership (2nd ed.). New York: Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wearden, A., Peters, I., Berry, K., Barrrowclough, C., & Liversidge, T. (2008). Adult attachment, parenting experiences, and core beliefs about self and others. Personality and Individual Differences, 44, 1246–1257. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2007.11.019.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zigmond, A. S., & Snaith, R. P. (1983). The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 67, 361–370. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.1983.tb09716.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

A version of this paper was presented in poster format at The Seattle Club conference in December, 2015.

Author Contributions

L.O. designed the larger study from which this data was taken. L.O., and L.M. developed the concept for the current paper. L.O. collected the data. L. O. analyzed the data. L.O., and L.M. wrote sections of the paper. All authors discussed the results and implications and edited the manuscript at all stages.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Chester, Parkgate Road, Chester, CH1 4BJ, UK

    Linda P. O’Neill & Lindsay E. Murray

Authors
  1. Linda P. O’Neill
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lindsay E. Murray
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Linda P. O’Neill.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

Ethical Standards

The research associated with this article was subjected to the stringent standards set down by the University’s Ethical Committee, which fully adheres to the ethical guidelines set out by the British Psychological Society.

Informed Consent

All participants gave their fully informed consent prior to participating in this research.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

O’Neill, L.P., Murray, L.E. Perceived Parenting Styles Fail to Mediate Between Anxiety and Attachment Styles in Adult Siblings of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities. J Autism Dev Disord 46, 3144–3154 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2859-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2859-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation