THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LIFE EVENTS DURING ADOLESCENCE AND AFFECT AND PERSONALITY FUNCTIONING

Bowlby's concept of the internal working model is useful in coneptuali zing how a child develops a sense of self and security through the ava ilability of significant relationships. The lack of secure attachments may lead to dysphoric moods and poor personality functioning. We have shown that a proportion of teenagers develop dysphoria as well as per sonality disturbance during adolescence. A study sample of 59 youth wa s examined at early, middle and late adolescence. Ratings were made of affect, attitudes and personality functions. At the same time, inform ation was obtained about family status and functioning. Results showed that certain family and life events were more strongly correlated wit h changes in affect in early adolescence. These affects were both inte rnalized and externalized. Middle adolescence appeared to be quiescent , without any correlations with affect or personality problems. In lat e adolescence, there were correlations between family changes and pers onality dysfunction as well as dysphoria. This shows that family chang es which threaten the availability of significant attachment figures a re linked to emotional and behavioural disturbance in early adolescenc e and personality and emotional disturbance in late adolescence.