The latent profiles of parent and peer attachment through the lens of adolescents: differences in life satisfaction, resilient mindset, basic psychological needs, and relative deprivation

TL;DR

This study identifies different attachment profiles in adolescents and shows how these profiles relate to life satisfaction, resilience, and psychological needs.

Contribution

The study introduces seven distinct attachment profiles and demonstrates their impact on adolescent well-being indicators.

Findings

Seven distinct latent profiles of parent and peer attachment were identified among adolescents.

Adolescents with different attachment profiles showed significant differences in life satisfaction and psychological needs.

Secure attachment to multiple figures was linked to better well-being and lower relative deprivation.

Abstract

This study employs a person-centered approach to explore the latent profiles of adolescents’ parent and peer attachment and to reveal potential disparities between their levels of life satisfaction, resilient mindset, perceived basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration, and relative deprivation by their attachment profiles.

The cross-sectional exploratory study included 2,322 adolescents aged 14–18 attending secondary schools in Ankara, Türkiye (Mage = 15.91, SD = 1.13; females = 57.1%). We collected the data using the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Resilient Mindset Scale, the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale, and the Relative Deprivation Scale. Latent profile analysis was employed to identify attachment profiles. Additionally, Welch’s ANOVA was conducted to examine differences in adolescent outcome indicators across the identified attachment profiles. Pairwise comparisons were then made using the Games-Howell Test due to the non-homogeneity of the variances. Effect sizes were reported as eta squared (η2).

Our analysis yielded seven latent profiles of parent and peer attachment during adolescence, and we compared the outcome indicators specified in the study by these profiles. Accordingly, we established that life satisfaction, resilient mindset, basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration, and perceived relative deprivation showed significant differences by participating adolescents’ attachment profiles. Our findings demonstrated that the identified latent attachment profiles exhibited not only statistical but also theoretical and practical validity and relevance.

This study sought to elucidate the complex nature of attachment hierarchies during adolescence and highlight the protective role of secure attachment to multiple figures. Our findings highlight the potential importance of developing targeted, customized strategies for adolescents with different attachment profiles while promoting optimal development through attachment-based approaches.

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