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A Cross-Cultural Study on Attachment and Adjustment Difficulties in Adolescence: The Mediating Role of Self-Control in Italy, Spain, China, and Poland

Author

Listed:
  • Elisa Mancinelli

    (Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Hanna D. Liberska

    (Department of Social Psychology and Research on Youth, Kazimierz Wielki University, 85064 Bydgoszcz, Poland)

  • Jian-Bin Li

    (Department of Early Childhood Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)

  • José P. Espada

    (Department of Health Psychology, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03202 Elche, Spain)

  • Elisa Delvecchio

    (Department of Philosophy, Social Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy)

  • Claudia Mazzeschi

    (Department of Philosophy, Social Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy)

  • Adriana Lis

    (Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Silvia Salcuni

    (Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy)

Abstract

From a socio-ecological perspective, individuals are influenced by the interplay of individual, relational, and societal factors operating as a broader system. Thereby, to support youth adjustment during the critical adolescence period, the interplay between these factors should be investigated. This study aimed to investigate cross-cultural differences in adolescents’ maternal and paternal attachment, adolescents’ adjustment difficulties and self-control, and in their association. N = 1000 adolescents (mean (M) age = 16.94, SD = 0.48; 45.90% males) from China, Italy, Spain, and Poland participated by completing self-report measures. Results showed cross-country similarities and differences among the considered variables and their associative pattern. Moreover, conditional process analysis evaluating the association between maternal vs. paternal attachment and adjustment difficulties, mediated by self-control, and moderated by country, was performed. Maternal attachment directly, and indirectly through greater self-control, influenced adjustment difficulties in all four countries. This association was stronger among Spaniards. Paternal attachment influenced directly, and indirectly through self-control, on adolescents’ adjustment difficulties only in Italy, Spain, and Poland, and was stronger among Polish adolescents. For Chinese adolescents, paternal attachment solely associated with adjustment difficulties when mediated by self-control. Thus, results highlighted both similarities and differences across countries in the interplay between maternal vs. paternal attachment and self-control on adolescents’ adjustment difficulties. Implications are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Elisa Mancinelli & Hanna D. Liberska & Jian-Bin Li & José P. Espada & Elisa Delvecchio & Claudia Mazzeschi & Adriana Lis & Silvia Salcuni, 2021. "A Cross-Cultural Study on Attachment and Adjustment Difficulties in Adolescence: The Mediating Role of Self-Control in Italy, Spain, China, and Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-19, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:16:p:8827-:d:618995
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mack, Kristin Y. & Leiber, Michael J. & Featherstone, Richard A. & Monserud, Maria A., 2007. "Reassessing the family-delinquency association: Do family type, family processes, and economic factors make a difference?," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 51-67.
    2. Estefanía Mónaco & Konstanze Schoeps & Inmaculada Montoya-Castilla, 2019. "Attachment Styles and Well-Being in Adolescents: How Does Emotional Development Affect This Relationship?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-17, July.
    3. Miller, Holly Ventura & Jennings, Wesley G. & Alvarez-Rivera, Lorna L. & Lanza-Kaduce, Lonn, 2009. "Self-control, attachment, and deviance among Hispanic adolescents," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 77-84, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Gro Hilde Ramsdal & Rolf Wynn, 2022. "Attachment and School Completion: Understanding Young People Who Have Dropped Out of High School and Important Factors in Their Re-Enrollment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-15, March.
    2. Elisa Mancinelli & Jian-Bin Li & Adriana Lis & Silvia Salcuni, 2021. "Adolescents’ Attachment to Parents and Reactive–Proactive Aggression: The Mediating Role of Alexithymia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-17, December.

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