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Publication Date

2005

First Advisor

Dr. Dennis Miehls

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

School for Social Work

Abstract

This study examined the shifts in adolescents’ perceptions of attachment relationships with parents and peers over the course of a seven-week residential program. The convenience study sample was created from voluntary participants, drawn from adolescents entering a seven-week wilderness therapy program during a given five-month period. The 93 adolescents, ranging in age from fourteen to seventeen, filled out three quantitative measurements which evaluated their perceptions of attachment relationships I with mother, father and peers at the beginning and again at the end of treatment. Based on attachment theory, study hypotheses predicted that adolescents would develop healthier attachments to mother and father figures, as measured by a decrease in attachment scores from pre to post administrations.

Results from this study generally supported hypotheses regarding adolescents’ improved attachment relationships in terms of decreased anger and increased emotional connection towards parents? The hypotheses were not supported in regards to other elements of those relationships, including trust or communication with parents where more problems were reported by the end of treatment. These findings indicate the complexity of parent-adolescent relationships, particularly when considered in the context of out-of-home care, and point to the importance of continued exploration in this area. The effect of family treatment interventions on these reported attachment shifts was unclear, and should be probed in further study.

Language

English

Comments

vii, 152 leaves

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