Parental bonding, coping strategies and attachment style among young adults

This study investigates the complex interplay between parental bonding, attachment styles, and coping strategies among young adults in India, aiming to enhance understanding of how early familial relationships influence psychological resilience and adaptability. Grounded in attachment theory and using a cross-sectional design, the research examines the effects of parental care and overprotection on coping mechanisms and attachment patterns. Data were gathered from 190 Indian young adults (ages 18-25) and analyzed through correlation and ANOVA analyses. Results indicate that parental bonding alone does not predict coping strategies; however, a secure attachment style is positively associated with adaptive coping. This suggests that attachment security may play a more crucial role in coping than parental bonding alone. The study underscores the importance of culturally sensitive mental health interventions, which could aid young adults in fostering secure attachments to strengthen coping skills. Key limitations include the cross-sectional design and reliance on self-report measures, suggesting a need for longitudinal research to observe how parental bonding, attachment, and coping evolve over time. Findings contribute to the field by emphasizing secure attachment’s critical role in fostering psychological resilience in the Indian cultural context, highlighting potential pathways for culturally tailored interventions in mental health.