The role of parenting styles and resilience in adult attachment: a dimensional approach

Introduction. International students often face all sort of challenges adapting to new environment and according to research, the way we are raised could shape how we handle difficulties, and this may in turn reflect how we form relationships or attachments with others as adults. The aim was to examine how resilience and perceived parenting styles are associated with adult attachment using dimensional approaches. Methods. Data was drawn from 232 international university (90 male and 142 female) students in Kaunas, Lithuania. Participants completed the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), and the Adult Attachment Scale (AAS). Correlational analyses and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data. Results. The findings from the multivariate linear regressions revealed that higher resilience predicted greater comfort with closeness in relationships (B = 0.19, β = 0.21, p = 0.004, VIF = 1.22) in close adult attachment. Meanwhile maternal optimal or permissive parenting style predicted lower attachment anxiety (B = –0.53, β = –0.27, p = 0.003, VIF = 1.89). This suggests that individuals with stronger adaptive capacities may be more open and secure in forming or maintaining relationships as indicated by the close adult attachment dimension. Whereas, caring for children in a warm and autonomy granting environment may reduce an individuals’ fear of rejection or abandonment in adult relationships. However, other variables exceeded the significance level of p < 0.05. Overall, both resilience and perceived parenting were associated with certain adult attachment dimensions. Conclusion. Provision of resources that will enhance resilience, as well as further research will be necessary to encourage appropriate parenting styles that will facilitate healthy attachments in adulthood. These outcomes improve knowledge of the importance of parenting, resilience and its role in fostering healthy and unhealthy or insecure adult attachment among international students and this can be empowering for parents, teachers, and counselors.