Parental Overprotection Impairs Peer Attachment: The Roles of Experiential Avoidance and Family Socioeconomic Status in a Mediated Moderation Model / El perjuicio de la sobreprotección parental en el apego a los pares: los roles de la evitación exper

As adolescents undergo physical and psychological maturation, their peers increasingly serve as the primary source of support and validation, often superseding parents as the principal influence on personal development. This study examined the impact of parental overprotection on adolescents’ peer attachment across varying socioeconomic backgrounds, with experiential avoidance considered as a mediating variable. The sample comprised 310 students from three grade levels at a public junior high school in Ningxia Province, China. Data were collected via self-reporting questionnaires measuring parental overprotection, peer attachment, experiential avoidance, and family socioeconomic status. The findings indicated that: (1) parental overprotection was negatively correlated with adolescents’ peer attachment; (2) experiential avoidance partially mediated the relationship between maternal overprotection and peer attachment; and (3) family socioeconomic status moderated the association between experiential avoidance and peer attachment.