Dysfunctional Individuation and Attachment among Indian Adolescents

Abstract

The present study was conducted to explore the relationship between dysfunctional individuation (DIS) and attachment characteristics in Indian high school students. It assessed the contribution of attachment characteristics on DIS. Separation-individuation and attachment are two concepts that have always been compared and thought to be contradictory to each other. But the link between these two aspects has also been reported. For this study a sample of 67 students (27 boys & 40 girls) who were 12 to 14 years of age were assessed using Dysfunctional Individuation Scale (Stey et al., 2014) and Adolescence Attachment Questionnaire (West et al., 1998). The data was analysed using multiple regression analysis, coefficient of correlation and student’s t-test. The results indicate a significant direct relationship of DIS with Angry Distress and indirect relationship of DIS with availability. Attachment proved to be a strong predictor of dysfunctional individuation. Outcome suggests adolescents with working mothers have greater goal corrected partnership than adolescents with non-working mothers. Details have been discussed in the paper.