Attachment anxiety and avoidance, emotion dysregulation, interpersonal difficulties and alcohol problems in emerging adulthood

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abby L. Goldstein ◽  
Sarah Haller ◽  
Sean P. Mackinnon ◽  
Sherry H. Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Emotion Dysregulation ◽  
Alcohol Problems ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Interpersonal Difficulties

scholarly journals Attachment, Emotion Dysregulation and Physical IPV in Predominantly Hispanic, Young Adult Couples

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7241
Author(s):  
Deanna L. Pollard ◽  
Arthur Cantos
Keyword(s):  
Partner Violence ◽  
Emotion Dysregulation ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Insecure Attachment ◽  
Heterosexual Couples ◽  
Predominantly Hispanic ◽  
Female Partners ◽  
Ipv Perpetration ◽  
Hispanic Serving ◽  
Reported Data

Insecure attachment has been found to be a risk factor for perpetrating physical intimate partner violence (IPV). However, this association is likely exacerbated by additional factors, such as conflicting insecure attachment in one’s partner and difficulties with overall emotion regulation and impulse control. The present study aimed to examine the associations between insecure attachment and physical IPV perpetration in male and female partners, as well as to examine whether these associations are exacerbated by involvement with a partner with opposing attachment needs and overall emotion dysregulation and impulsivity. Additionally, this study examined whether partners’ emotion dysregulation interacted to predict IPV. Two hundred eight heterosexual couples primarily recruited from a Hispanic-serving university completed questionnaires on attachment, emotion dysregulation, and one’s own and one’s partner’s perpetration. Results revealed that attachment anxiety, impulsivity, and an interaction effect between attachment avoidance and partner’s attachment anxiety were associated with self-reported, but not partner-reported, male perpetration. For females, attachment anxiety was associated with female IPV (self-reported and partner-reported), and impulsivity was associated with self-reported female IPV. Overall, results underscore how relationships between known risk factors and IPV perpetration may differ depending on if IPV perpetration is measured using self-reported or partner-reported data. Additional results and implications are discussed.

Effects of Adversity on Sexuality in Emerging Adulthood

2021 ◽  
pp. 385-405
Author(s):  
Jennifer Connolly ◽  
Katherine Benvenuto ◽  
Katherine Wincentak
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Health ◽  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Emotion Dysregulation ◽  
Childhood Adversity ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Parental Distress ◽  
Normative Development ◽  
Sexual Outcomes ◽  
Adverse Experiences ◽  
Research Findings

Adverse experiences in childhood include negative events directed toward the child, including abuse, mistreatment, or neglect, as well as indirect events such as family conflict, parental distress, and community disadvantage. All these events can disrupt normative development and may lead to maladaptive sexual outcomes in emerging adulthood. This chapter explores the links between experiences of childhood adversity and maladaptive sexual outcomes in emerging adulthood, including engagement in high-risk sexual activities and negative sexual health outcomes. Underlying processes that have been theorized to account for these effects are discussed, especially the role of cumulative stress and emotion dysregulation. The implications of the research findings for promoting sexual health are considered, and future research directions are proposed.

Trait Impulsivity Impedes Maturing Out of Problem Drinking Among Socially Anxious Undergraduates

2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-108
Author(s):  
Elena Bilevicius ◽  
Chantal Van Landeghem ◽  
Sherry H Stewart ◽  
Simon B Sherry ◽  
Matthew T Keough
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Growth Curve ◽  
Problem Drinking ◽  
Alcohol Problems ◽  
Developmental Trajectory ◽  
Mixed Data ◽  
Socially Anxious ◽  
Growth Curve Models ◽  
Trait Impulsivity

Abstract Aims Alcohol use follows a developmental trajectory—steadily increasing and peaking in the early stages of emerging adulthood (e.g. first year of university) and declining thereafter. While most individuals ‘mature out’ of problem drinking as they move through emerging adulthood, some continue to drink heavily and experience serious problems. Tension reduction theory identifies social anxiety (SA) as a potential risk factor for problem drinking during emerging adulthood. However, mixed data suggest that the associations between SA and drinking behaviours are not straightforward. Cross-sectional studies demonstrate that socially anxious emerging adults are at risk for problem drinking, but only if they are also high in trait impulsivity. This study aimed to expand on previous work by examining trait impulsivity as moderator of the prospective associations between SA and maturing out of problem drinking in emerging adulthood. Methods Undergraduates (N = 302) completed online self-reports at regular intervals (6-months) over an 18-month period, resulting in four waves of data. Results Unconditional latent growth curve models indicated that alcohol problems (but not use) declined linearly over time. Next, conditional growth curve models revealed that SA was associated with impeded maturing out of alcohol problems, but this effect was only present in socially anxious participants with high levels of trait impulsivity. Conclusion Our study advances growing literature on the crucial moderating role that impulsivity plays in the SA pathway to problem drinking. Clinical interventions for problem drinking among socially anxious students should both assess for and target concurrent impulsivity.

Aggressive Behavior and Interpersonal Difficulties in Borderline Personality Disorder

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori N. Scott ◽  
Paul A. Pilkonis
Keyword(s):  
Borderline Personality Disorder ◽  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Aggressive Behavior ◽  
Emotion Dysregulation ◽  
Interpersonal Problems ◽  
Borderline Personality ◽  
Case Formulation ◽  
Interpersonal Difficulties ◽  
Monitoring Progress

Interpersonal problems are among the most severely impairing, difficult-to-manage, and intransigent of borderline personality disorder (BPD) features and therefore require special attention in treatment. Emotion dysregulation and related mood-dependent behaviors among individuals with BPD typically occur in the context of interpersonally relevant events or stressors, signifying the central role of interpersonal and attachment-related concerns for these patients. Two prominent interpersonal themes in those with BPD are discussed: interpersonal hypersensitivity and angry or aggressive behavior. The chapter provides a brief case illustration of how these themes might emerge in psychotherapy and recommends explicit assessment of interpersonal problems and aggression to enhance risk evaluation, case formulation, treatment planning, and monitoring progress in treatment.

scholarly journals Learning to trust: trust and attachment in early psychosis

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (7) ◽  
pp. 1437-1447 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.-K. J. Fett ◽  
S. S. Shergill ◽  
N. Korver-Nieberg ◽  
F. Yakub ◽  
P. M. Gromann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Early Psychosis ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Group Status ◽  
Anxious Attachment ◽  
Basic Trust ◽  
Trust Games ◽  
Interpersonal Difficulties ◽  
Self Protection ◽  
The Relationship

BackgroundDistrust and social dysfunction are characteristic in psychosis and may arise from attachment insecurity, which is elevated in the disorder. The relationship between trust and attachment in the early stages of psychosis is unknown, yet could help to understand interpersonal difficulties and disease progression. This study aimed to investigate whether trust is reduced in patients with early psychosis and whether this is accounted for by attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety.MethodWe used two trust games with a cooperative and unfair partner in a sample of 39 adolescents with early psychosis and 100 healthy controls.ResultsPatients had higher levels of attachment anxiety, but the groups did not differ in attachment avoidance. Basic trust was lower in patients than controls, as indicated by lower initial investments. During cooperation patients increased their trust towards levels of controls, i.e. they were able to learn and to override initial suspiciousness. Patients decreased their trust less than controls during unfair interactions. Anxious attachment was associated with higher basic trust and higher trust during unfair interactions and predicted trust independent of group status.DiscussionPatients showed decreased basic trust but were able to learn from the trustworthy behaviour of their counterpart. Worries about the acceptance by others and low self-esteem are associated with psychosis and attachment anxiety and may explain behaviour that is focused on conciliation, rather than self-protection.

scholarly journals Internet-Delivered Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills Training for Suicidal and Heavy Episodic Drinkers: Protocol and Preliminary Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chelsey Wilks ◽  
Qingqing Yin ◽  
Sin Yee Ang ◽  
Brandon Matsumiya ◽  
Anita Lungu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Emotion Dysregulation ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Alcohol Problems ◽  
Heavy Episodic Drinking ◽  
High Risk Population ◽  
Treatment Needs ◽  
Randomized Controlled

BACKGROUND The need to develop effective and accessible interventions for suicidal individuals engaging in heavy episodic drinking (HED) cannot be understated. While the link between alcohol use and suicidality is a complex one that remains to be elucidated, emotion dysregulation may play a key role in alcohol-related suicide risk in these individuals. OBJECTIVE In the current study, an 8-week Internet-delivered dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills training intervention was developed and preliminarily evaluated for suicidal individuals who engage in HED to regulate emotions. The aim of the study is to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the therapist-assisted and Internet-delivered intervention, and to inform the design of a subsequent full-scale study. METHODS The study was a pilot randomized controlled trial comparing participants receiving immediate-treatment (n=30) to waitlist controls (n=29) over a period of 16 weeks. Intervention effects will be assessed longitudinally using hierarchical linear modeling and generalized estimating equations, along with analyses of effect sizes and clinically significant change. The primary outcomes are suicidal ideation, alcohol problems, and emotion dysregulation. Secondary outcomes include alcohol-related consequences, reasons for living, skills use, and depression. RESULTS The trial is ongoing. A total of 60 individuals returned their informed consent and were randomized, of whom 59 individuals were intended to treat. A total of 50 participants in the study were retained through the 16-week enrollment. CONCLUSIONS There is a dearth of evidence-based treatment for individuals presenting with high risk and complex behaviors. Furthermore, computerized interventions may provide a beneficial alternative to traditional therapies. The particular clinical features and treatment needs of suicidal individuals who also engage in HED constitute key domains for further investigation that are needed to consolidate the design of appropriate interventions for this high-risk population. CLINICALTRIAL Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02932241; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02932241 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6uJHdQsC2)

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