Preoccupied Attachment Alters The Degree To Which Peer Victimization Leads To Low Self-Esteem And Depression

Poster #101

In this study, we evaluate for whom victimization experiences are most likely to lead to adjustment difficulties and for whom victimization is unlikely to have negative adjustment consequences. Children vary in their attachment to peers and those with a preoccupied stance toward their best friend are especially likely to exhibit internalizing difficulties (Hodges, et.al., 1999), which may exacerbate maladjustment consequences of victimization. A total of 195 students in grades four to seven (101 boys; mean age = 10 years) in a southeastern middle school reported on their self-esteem, depression, and attachment styles in the Fall and Spring of their school year. A series of multiple regression analyses were conducted with either depression or self-esteem serving as dependent variables. Our study indicates that some children are more likely to experience deleterious consequences from victimization by peers. Children who exhibit behaviors of highly preoccupied attachment towards friends (i.e. need constant validation, are highly dependent), are more likely to be depressed and experience decreases in their self-esteem when they are victimized by their peers. Low levels of preoccupation are likely indicative of greater security which might allow children to better cope with stressful situations, while the opposite is true for highly preoccupied children.

Authors
Aleyah Ali
Emely Sanchez

Mentor
Dr. Ernest Hodges
Psychology
St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

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