ATTACHMENT STYLES, EMOTION REGULATION, AND ADJUSTMENT IN ADOLESCENCE

Attachment style differences in psychological symptomatology, self-con cept, and risky or problem behaviors were examined in a community samp le (N = 1,989) of Black and While adolescents, 13 to 19 years old. Ove rall, secure adolescents were the best-adjusted group, though not nece ssarily the least likely to engage in risky behaviors. Anxious adolesc ents were the worst-adjusted group, reporting the poorest self-concept s and the highest levels of symptomatology and risk behaviors. in cont rast, avoidant adolescents reported generally high levels of symptomat ology and poor self-concepts but similar levels of risk behaviors to t hose found among secures. Mediation analyses suggested that the observ ed differences in problem behaviors were at least partially accounted for by the differential experience of distress symptoms (primarily hos tility and depression) and by social competence. Finally patterns of a ttachment effects were similar across age, gender, and racial groups, with some important exceptions.