# An attachment-based pilot program to promote adolescent adjustment to parental divorce

## TL;DR

This study tested a program to help teenagers cope with their parents' divorce by focusing on emotional attachment.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is the development and evaluation of an attachment-based pilot program for adolescent adjustment to parental divorce.

## Key findings

- The program reduced negative emotions in adolescents six and twelve months post-intervention.
- No significant changes were observed in life satisfaction or positive emotions.
- The results suggest the need for further theoretical and clinical exploration of attachment-based interventions.

## Abstract

The study aimed to assess the impact of an attachment-based intervention on adolescent adaptation to parental divorce. The Adolescent Adjustment Pilot Program to Parental Divorce (AAPPD) employed an experimental group format, targeting improvements in various adaptation indicators (life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect). The sample comprised 30 Chilean adolescents aged 12 to 16 (M = 13.6, SD = 1.35), with 60% females and 40% males. After the intervention, the adolescents showed a decrease in negative affect at 6 and 12 months. However, no differences were identified in other dimensions of subjective well-being considered as indicators of divorce adaptation. The findings prompt discussion on theoretical and clinical implications.