Parental separation or divorce and adulthood attachment : The mediating role of the Abandonment schema

Journal article


D'Rozario, Annelyse B. and Pilkington, Pamela. (2022). Parental separation or divorce and adulthood attachment : The mediating role of the Abandonment schema. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy. 29(2), pp. 664-675. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2659
AuthorsD'Rozario, Annelyse B. and Pilkington, Pamela
Abstract

This study investigated whether the Abandonment schema mediates the relationship between a history of parental separation or divorce and attachment styles in adulthood. Participants (N = 426; Mage = 30.78 years) completed online measures, using Qualtrics. Results demonstrated that a history of parental separation or divorce was positively associated with anxious and avoidant attachment styles in adulthood. Mediation analyses revealed that the Abandonment schema mediated these relationships (p < 0.001). This suggests that adults with a history of parental divorce or separation are more likely to report anxious and avoidant attachment styles, and this is partially accounted for by an expectation that they will be abandoned by others. These findings have implications for case formulation and can be used to inform treatment. Schema therapy focused on healing the Abandonment schema could promote attachment security in individuals with a history of parental separation or divorce. For example, limited reparenting (i.e., the therapist seeking to meet the client's unmet emotional needs, within the professional boundaries of the relationship), could be tailored to address the individual's underlying unmet need for security and stability. Further research is needed to advance our understanding of the implications of these findings for treatment.

Keywordsabandonment schema; attachment styles; early maladaptive schemas; parental divorce; secure attachment
Year2022
JournalClinical Psychology and Psychotherapy
Journal citation29 (2), pp. 664-675
PublisherJohn Wiley & Sons Ltd
ISSN1063-3995
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2659
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85115005005
Page range664-675
Publisher's version
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online17 Sep 2021
Publication process dates
Accepted11 Aug 2021
Deposited28 Feb 2023
Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8yv9w/parental-separation-or-divorce-and-adulthood-attachment-the-mediating-role-of-the-abandonment-schema

Restricted files

Publisher's version

  • 120
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 3
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

Early maladaptive schemas and depression in adulthood : A systematic review and meta-analysis
Bishop, Amy, Younan, Rita, Low, Jennifer and Pilkington, Pamela. (2022). Early maladaptive schemas and depression in adulthood : A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy. 29(1), pp. 111-130. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2630
Mothers’ worries during pregnancy : A content analysis of reddit posts
Pilkington, Pamela and Bedford-Dyer, Isabella. (2021). Mothers’ worries during pregnancy : A content analysis of reddit posts. The Journal of Perinatal Education. 30(2), pp. 98-107. https://doi.org/10.1891/J-PE-D-20-00018
Overlap of autism spectrum disorder and borderline personality disorder : A systematic review and meta-analysis
May, Tamara, Pilkington, Pamela D., Younan, Rita and Williams, Katrina. (2021). Overlap of autism spectrum disorder and borderline personality disorder : A systematic review and meta-analysis. Autism Research. 14(12), pp. 2688-2710. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2619
Early maladaptive schemas and intimate partner violence victimization and perpetration : A systematic review and meta-analysis
Pilkington, Pamela D., Noonan, Clare, May, Tamara, Younan, Rita and Holt, Ruth A.. (2021). Early maladaptive schemas and intimate partner violence victimization and perpetration : A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy. 28(5), pp. 1030-1039. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2558
Intimate partner violence and child attachment : A systematic review and meta-analysis
Noonan, C. and Pilkington, P.. (2020). Intimate partner violence and child attachment : A systematic review and meta-analysis. Child Abuse and Neglect. 109, p. 104765. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104765
Adverse childhood experiences and early maladaptive schemas in adulthood : A systematic review and meta-analysis
Pilkington, Pamela D., Bishop, Amy and Younan, Rita. (2020). Adverse childhood experiences and early maladaptive schemas in adulthood : A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy. 28(3), pp. 569-584. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2533
Systematic review of the impact of coparenting interventions on paternal coparenting behaviour
Pilkington, Pamela, Rominov, Holly, Brown, Hilary K. and Dennis, Cindy-Lee. (2019). Systematic review of the impact of coparenting interventions on paternal coparenting behaviour. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 75(1), pp. 17 - 29. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13815
A systematic review of factors related to parents’ treatment decisions for their children with autism spectrum disorders
Wilson, Meghan, Hamilton, David, Whelan, Thomas and Pilkington, Pamela. (2018). A systematic review of factors related to parents’ treatment decisions for their children with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. 48, pp. 17 - 35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2018.01.004
The prevalence and correlates of self-harm ideation trajectories in Australian women from pregnancy to 4-years postpartum
Giallo, Rebecca, Pilkington, Pamela, Borschmann, Rohan, Seymour, Monique, Dunning, Melissa and Brown, Stephanie. (2018). The prevalence and correlates of self-harm ideation trajectories in Australian women from pregnancy to 4-years postpartum. Journal of Affective Disorders. 229, pp. 152 - 158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.12.064
Physical, sexual and social health factors associated with the trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms from pregnancy to 4 years postpartum
Giallo, Rebecca, Pilkington, Pamela, McDonald, Ellie, Gartland, Deirdre, Woolhouse, Hannah and Brown, Stephanie. (2017). Physical, sexual and social health factors associated with the trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms from pregnancy to 4 years postpartum. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. 52(7), pp. 815 - 828. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-017-1387-8
Fathers’ worries during pregnancy: A qualitative content analysis of reddit
Pilkington, Pamela and Rominov, Holly. (2017). Fathers’ worries during pregnancy: A qualitative content analysis of reddit. The Journal of Perinatal Education. 26(4), pp. 208 - 218. https://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.26.4.208
Modifiable partner factors associated with perinatal depression and anxiety : A systematic review and meta-analysis
Pilkington, Pamela, Milne, Lisa, Cairns, Kathryn, Lewis, James and Whelan, Thomas. (2015). Modifiable partner factors associated with perinatal depression and anxiety : A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders (Print). 178, pp. 165 - 180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.02.023
Parenting strategies for reducing the risk of adolescent depression and anxiety disorders: A Delphi consensus study
Marie B.H. Yap, Pamela D. Pilkington, Siobhan M. Ryan, Claire M. Kelly and Anthony F. Jorm. (2014). Parenting strategies for reducing the risk of adolescent depression and anxiety disorders: A Delphi consensus study. Journal of Affective Disorders. 156, pp. 67-75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2013.11.017