Attachment Styles, Quality of Attachment Relationships, and Components of Self-Esteem in Adolescence

Abstract

Attachment style was assessed in relation to self-esteem and quality of parental and peer relationships in a sample (N = 495) of high school students. It was predicted that there would be a high degree of relationship between secure attachment, quality of relationships, and self-esteem, and that there would be differential relationships between the various attachment styles and components of self-esteem. Results indicated that both Secure and Dismissive attachment styles were associated with high quality of attachment to mother and father but only Secure attachment was associated with high quality of attachment to peers. Examination of the components of self-esteem revealed that the quality of relationships to peers predicted Self-Liking but not Self-Competence. The results suggest complexity in the relationship between different elements of attachment and self-esteem