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Young Adults’ Recollections of Parental Rejection and Self-Reported Aggression: The Mediating Roles of Insecure Adult Attachment and Emotional Dysregulation

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Abstract

We examined the relationship between young adults’ perceptions of parental rejection and endorsement of aggression. A structural model was developed and tested in which the mediating roles of insecure adult attachment and emotional dysregulation were examined in a large sample of college students (N = 541). Results indicated that perceived father and mother rejection had indirect effects on self-reported aggression via insecure adult attachment and emotional dysregulation. Insecure adult attachment also mediated the relationships between perceived mother (full mediation) and father (partial mediation) rejection and emotional dysregulation. Both emotional dysregulation and insecure adult attachment had direct effects on aggression in the final model; however, insecure adult attachment had a considerably stronger effect. Analyses also revealed no gender differences among the study variables in the structural model. It is concluded that parental relationships, attachment security, and emotional functioning may play integral roles in young adult aggressive behavior. Implications and future research are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Winona State University, Winona, MN, 55987, USA

    Robert B. Casselman

  2. Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, 60115, USA

    Melissa D. McKenzie

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  1. Robert B. Casselman
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  2. Melissa D. McKenzie
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Correspondence to Robert B. Casselman.

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Casselman, R.B., McKenzie, M.D. Young Adults’ Recollections of Parental Rejection and Self-Reported Aggression: The Mediating Roles of Insecure Adult Attachment and Emotional Dysregulation. Journ Child Adol Trauma 8, 61–71 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-014-0032-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-014-0032-x

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