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Substance Use, Related Problem Behaviors and Adult Attachment in a Sample of High Risk Older Adolescent Women

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Abstract

We tested a hypothesis about the usefulness of attachment theory in aiding our understanding of substance use and related problem behaviors among a high-risk group of women. The data were from an ongoing longitudinal study of pregnant and parenting adolescents, and were collected via interview at 5.5 and 6 years postpartum (n = 232). At enrollment, the respondents were an average age of 16. Using regressing analysis (OLS and logistic), differences in attachment security were found to be related to substance use and related problem behaviors and attachment differences in behavior were found to be partially mediated by psychological distress.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY

    Seana Golder Ph.D. (Assistant Professor)

  2. School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

    Mary Rogers Gillmore Ph.D. (Professor) & Diane Morrison Ph.D. (Professor)

  3. Family and Child Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

    Susan Spieker Ph.D. (Professor)

  4. Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292

    Seana Golder Ph.D. (Assistant Professor)

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  1. Seana Golder Ph.D.
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  2. Mary Rogers Gillmore Ph.D.
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  3. Susan Spieker Ph.D.
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  4. Diane Morrison Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Seana Golder Ph.D..

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Golder, S., Gillmore, M.R., Spieker, S. et al. Substance Use, Related Problem Behaviors and Adult Attachment in a Sample of High Risk Older Adolescent Women. J Child Fam Stud 14, 181–193 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-005-5046-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-005-5046-6

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