Attachment security, environmental adversity, and fast life history behavioral profiles in human adolescents.

Journal: Development and psychopathology

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Affiliated Institutions:  The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China. Duke University, Durham, NC, USA. University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China. Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, USA. Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA. University of Naples "Federico II," Naples, Italy. Università di Roma "La Sapienza," Rome, Italy. Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines. University West, Trollhättan, Sweden. Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan. Maseno University, Maseno, Kenya. Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Universidad de San Buenaventura, Medellín, Colombia.

Abstract summary 

One species-general life history (LH) principle posits that challenging childhood environments are coupled with a fast or faster LH strategy and associated behaviors, while secure and stable childhood environments foster behaviors conducive to a slow or slower LH strategy. This coupling between environments and LH strategies is based on the assumption that individuals' internal traits and states are independent of their external surroundings. In reality, individuals respond to external environmental conditions in alignment with their intrinsic vitality, encompassing both physical and mental states. The present study investigated attachment as an internal mental state, examining its role in mediating and moderating the association between external environmental adversity and fast LH strategies. A sample of 1169 adolescents (51% girls) from 9 countries was tracked over 10 years, starting from age 8. The results confirm both mediation and moderation and, for moderation, secure attachment nullified and insecure attachment maintained the environment-LH coupling. These findings suggest that attachment could act as an internal regulator, disrupting the contingent coupling between environmental adversity and a faster pace of life, consequently decelerating human LH.

Authors & Co-authors:  Lu Hui Jing HJ Lansford Jennifer E JE Liu Yuan Yuan YY Chen Bin Bin BB Bornstein Marc H MH Skinner Ann T AT Dodge Kenneth A KA Steinberg Laurence L Deater-Deckard Kirby K Rothenberg W Andrew WA Bacchini Dario D Pastorelli Concetta C Alampay Liane Peña LP Sorbring Emma E Gurdal Sevtap S Al-Hassan Suha M SM Oburu Paul P Yotanyamaneewong Saengduean S Tapanya Sombat S Di Giunta Laura L Uribe Tirado Liliana Maria LM Chang Lei L

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations : 
Authors :  22
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1017/S0954579424001500
SSN : 1469-2198
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Other Terms
caregiver–child attachment;extrinsic and intrinsic mortality risks;fast and slow life history behavioral profiles
Study Design
Study Approach
Country of Study
Publication Country
United States