Attachment Relationships and Adolescent Psychological Health: The Influence of Romantic Relationships

Abstract

Research demonstrates that attachment relationships play important roles in adolescent psychological health. The influence of romantic relationships on adjustment is less clear. Using a cross-sectional sample of 515 adolescents, the current study examines whether romantic relationships replace the influence of other attachment relationships on adolescent psychological health. Regression analyses revealed that romantic relationships did not significantly impact on the influence of other attachment relationships when predicting depression but did significantly decrease the influence of peer attachment for self-esteem. It is concluded that romantic relationships during adolescence do not have major direct effects on adjustment and have only a minor influence on existing attachment relationships in predicting psychological health. Findings are discussed in the light of the continuity model of interpersonal relationships.