ATTACHMENT-RELATED PREDICTORS OF CONSTRUCTIVE THINKING AMONG COLLEGE-STUDENTS

This study explored the extent to which (a) retrospective reports of c hildhood emotional bonds with parents and (b) current adult attachment orientations predicted the capacity for constructive thinking within a college sample. A total of 145 undergraduates completed measures of global constructive thinking, parent-child emotional bonds, and adult attachment orientations. When gender and ethnic differences in constru ctive thinking within this sample were controlled for, both parent-chi ld emotional bonds and current adult attachment orientations significa ntly predicted constructive thinking scores. In addition, students' ad ult attachment orientations effectively mediated the influence of earl y emotional bonds on constructive thinking.