Parental Attachment for Emerging Adults in Psychiatric Residential Treatment: Associations with Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms

Some emerging adults (ages 18–29) develop severe psychological symptoms for which psychiatric residential treatment may be needed. Attachment theory suggests that experiences with caregivers have long-term effects on psychological well-being, but little is known about parental attachment for these residential emerging adults. The goal of the current study was to test an integrative model of parental attachment in relation to anxiety and depressive symptoms using response surface analysis in a sample of 489 emerging adults ( M = 20.48 years) in residential treatment. Emerging adults completed measures of attachment, anxiety, and depressive symptoms at intake. Attachment anxiety did not uniquely explain variance in symptoms. However, attachment avoidance to both parents was related to symptoms. Moreover, for anxiety symptoms, a reverse congruence effect suggested symptoms were better for those with more similar attachments to both parents. Our results affirm the continued importance of parental relationships for emerging adults with severe symptoms.