Contributions of Parental Attachments to View of Self and Depressive Symptoms among Early Adolescents

Abstract

Three causal models, examining the relationship of parental attachment to view of self and level of depressive symptoms, were examined for a sample of eighth-grade girls (n = 92) and boys (n = 115). Consistent with the Bowlby construct of the internal working model of self structural equation modeling provided tentative support for the mediating role of view of self in influencing depressive symptoms. Gender differences were found for levels of depressive symptoms and global self-worth. Longitudinal studies with additional variables and multiple informants are needed to further assess the validity of the proposed model