Attachment of at-risk adolescents: Etiological pathways, emotional intelligence, and comorbidity

This exploratory research study focused on at-risk adolescents to (a) identify the prevalence rate of secure and insecure attachment classifications; (b) distinguish among secure and insecure attachment classifications; (c) identify possible attachment classification related etiological pathways; (d) explore potential relationships among attachment classifications, comorbid psychological diagnoses, measured emotional and cognitive intelligences, gender, age, birth order, and ethnicity; and (e) explore the use of family drawings to differentiate among attachment representations. This study included 134 at-risk adolescents of First Nation, Caucasian, Metis, and Inuit ethnicities; some with developmental disabilities (e.g., Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Mental Retardation). Based on previous research findings, the Family Drawing Attachment Rating Form (FDARF) was developed and used to differentiate among attachment representations based on analysis of family drawings. Corollary findings and strong inter-rater agreement provided preliminary support for the validity and reliability of the FDARF to differentiate among attachment representations. Results found a similar attachment classification distribution (12% autonomous, 42% preoccupied, 37% dismissing, 9% unresolved) as those identified in other studies with similar populations. To explore etiological pathways, potentially traumatizing life events experienced by the adolescents and risk factors, along with familial risk factors, were identified. Analysis found a trend towards a relationship between the potentially traumatizing life event that included physical abuse and attachment classifications. Higher percentages of some risk factors were found among adolescents whose family drawing was rated autonomous than adolescents whose family drawing was rated insecure. A number of explanations for this finding were provided. One explanation included the development of cognitive dissonance due to inconsistency between internal working model beliefs and changes in the environment. This finding may have constituted a time along the developmental trajectory of some at-risk adolescents when a change from secure to insecure attachment was at-risk for occurring. The use of an at-risk autonomous classification was suggested for future research. Findings supported further exploration of the relationship between emotional intelligence and attachment classifications. No significant association was found between specific psychological diagnosis and attachment classifications. A significant association was found between specific psychological diagnosis and some potentially traumatizing life events.