The Relationship Between Attachment Transfer And Psychological Adaptation In University Students

The transfer of primary attachment figures from parents to peers is a sign of the healthy development of adult attachment system(Bowlby,1969).The process of attachment transfer is the process of transferring the attachment-related functions(proximity seeking,safe heaven,secure base)from parents to peers.Previous studies focused on the development of attachment transfer in western culture and its impact on psychological adaptation,while in Chinese culture,there are few studies on attachment transfer,and there is no discussion on the mechanism of attachment transfer’s impact on psychological adaptation.In this study,two studies were conducted to investigate the current situation of attachment transfer,the influence of attachment transfer on psychological adaptation and its psychological mechanism.The purpose of study 1 is to understand the current situation of attachment transfer of college students,to verify the sequential model of attachment transfer and the relationship between attachment transfer and psychological adaptation,and to test the moderation of familism.468 college students were investigated with WHOTO Questionnaire,Familism Scale,Brief Symptom Inventory,Satisfaction with Life Scale,Emotion and Social Loneliness Scale.The purpose of study 2 is to explore the use of emotion regulation strategies in different attachment relationships,and to examine the potential mediating role of emotion regulation between attachment transfer and psychological adaptation.438 college students were investigated with WHOTO Questionnaire,Emotion Regulation Questionnaire,Satisfaction with Life Scale,Emotion and Social Loneliness Scale.The results are as follows:1.The sequential model of attachment transfer was validated in Chinese college students.In Study 1 and Study 2,81.6% and 79.2% of College Students’ attachment function transferred from parents to peers in the order of proximity seeking→ safe heaven→ secure base.2.There are significant differences in attachment transfer between male and female(urban participants and rural participants;dating or not).Compared with female(urban participants;participants who were not dating),male(rural participants;participants who were dating)tend to choose their peers as the primary attachment figures,and the degree of attachment transfer in male is significantly higher than that in female.3.The higher the degree of attachment transfer,the better the individual’s psychological adaptation.Study 1 found that compared with the participants whose attachment function has not been transferred completely,the participants whose attachment function has been transferred partially or completely reported lower levels of loneliness,anxiety and depression,as well as lower life satisfaction.Study 2 found that compared with the participants whose attachment function has not been transferred completely,the participants who partially or completely transferred the attachment function reported lower loneliness,but there was no significant difference in life satisfaction.4.There is a significant relationship between attachment transfer and familism.Study1 found that compared with the participants whose attachment function has not been transferred completely,the participants whose attachment function has been transferred partially or completely reported lower scores on familism.5.Familism moderate the influence of attachment transfer on psychological adaptation(anxiety,depression).Study 1 found that in the participants with high familism,compared with the participants whose attachment function has not been transferred completely,the participants whose attachment function has been transferred partially or completely reported lower scores on anxiety and depression.In the participants with low familism,there was no significant difference in anxiety and depression between the participants with different attachment transfer stages.6.There are significant differences in emotion regulation strategies reported by individuals in different relationships(parent-child relationship,peer relationship).Study 2 found that individuals reported less cognitive reappraisal and more suppression in parent-child relationships than in peer relationships.7.There were significant differences in emotion regulation strategies reported in different relationships(parent-child relationship,peer relationship)among the participants in different attachment transfer stages.Specifically,study 2 found that in the participants whose attachment function has been transferred completely and who transfer proximity seeking and safe heaven function,the participants reported more suppression in parent-child relationship than in peer relationship,and there was no significant difference in cognitive reappraisal.In the participants whose attachment function has not been transferred completely and who transfer proximity seeking function,there was no significant difference in emotion regulation strategies between parent-child relationship and peer relationship.8.There were significant differences in suppression reported by the participants in different attachment transfer stages in peer relationship.While in cognitive reappraisal,there were no significant differences.Specifically,study 2 found that participants whose attachment function has been transferred completely(Group 4)reported less suppression in peer relationship than participants whose attachment function has not been transferred completely(group 1).9.There is a significant relationship between emotion regulation strategies and psychological adaptation.Study 2 found that cognitive reappraisal in parent-child and peer relationship was positively correlated with life satisfaction,and negatively correlated with loneliness.The suppression in parent-child relationship was negatively correlated with life satisfaction.There was a significant positive correlation between loneliness and suppression in parent-child and peer relationship.10.Suppression in peer relationship mediates the influence of attachment transfer and psychological adaptation(loneliness).This study validated the sequential model of attachment transfer and examined the mechanism of attachment transfer on psychological adaptation,which provided effective data reference and theoretical basis for the research of adult attachment transfer.