The Influence of Parent- Peer Attachment on Mentalization and Personality among School Dropouts

Abstract

Attachment to parents and peers is one of the most vital human relations that impacts how an individual relates to oneself and others mentally and it contributes to the development of personality and is also imperative for educational motivation and achievement. The present study aims to explore the relationship and influence between Parent Peer attachment, mentalization and personality among the school dropouts. 90 school dropouts, age between 14 to 22 years who had discontinued their formal education was recruited from Nagaland through purposive sampling method completed the response for Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment, The Multidimensional Mentalization Questionnaire, NEO Five-Factor Inventory. Written informed consent was sought from guardians and participants. Father attachment showed positive correlation with mentalization, ego strength and extraversion. Mother attachment had moderate positive correlation with mentalization, ego strength, relational attunement and openness to experience and conscientiousness personality traits, however was negatively associated with emotional dyscontrol, relational discomfort and neuroticism. Peer attachment showed positive relationship with mentalization, reflexivity, ego-strength, relational attunement, extraversion and agreeableness. However, it showed negative association with relational discomfort. Regression analysis showed that father attachment negatively predicts neuroticism. Mother attachment significantly positively predicts mentalization and conscientiousness. Peer attachment significantly predicts mentalization and agreeableness personality trait.