Research
The Correlation Between Attachment Style, Self-Esteem, and Psychological Well-Being of Fatherless Women Ages 25–55
Danielle M. Frazier,
Rebecca G. Cowan,
Corresponding Author
Danielle M. Frazier
School of Counseling and Human Services, Capella University
C.C.C. Counseling Services, LLC, Hazelwood, Missouri
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Danielle M. Frazier, C.C.C. Counseling Services, LLC, 737 Dunn Road, Hazelwood, MO 63042 (email: counselordani@gmail.com).Search for more papers by this authorDanielle M. Frazier,
Rebecca G. Cowan,
Corresponding Author
Danielle M. Frazier
School of Counseling and Human Services, Capella University
C.C.C. Counseling Services, LLC, Hazelwood, Missouri
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Danielle M. Frazier, C.C.C. Counseling Services, LLC, 737 Dunn Road, Hazelwood, MO 63042 (email: counselordani@gmail.com).Search for more papers by this authorFirst published: 11 October 2020
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a correlation between the attachment style, self-esteem, and psychological well-being of women ages 25–55 whose fathers were absent during childhood. Results indicated a statistically significant correlation between attachment style and self-esteem. Implications for practice are provided.
REFERENCES
- Allgood, S. M., Beckert, T. E., & Peterson, C. (2012). The role of father involvement in the perceived psychological well-being of young adult daughters: A retrospective study. North American Journal of Psychology, 14(1), 95–110.
- Asiltürk, I., & Çunkaş, M. (2011). Modeling and prediction of surface roughness in turning operations using artificial neural network and multiple regression method. Expert Systems With Applications, 38(5), 5826–5832. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2010.11.041
- Bagley, C., Bolitho, F., & Bertrand, L. (1997). Norms and construct validity of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale in Canadian high school populations: Implications for counselling. Canadian Journal of Counselling, 31(1), 82–92. https://cjc-rcc.ucalgary.ca/article/view/58570/44060
- Bowlby, J. (1973). Attachment and loss: Vol. 2. Separation: Anxiety and anger. Penguin.
- Bowlby, J. (1979). The making and breaking of affectional bonds. Tavistock.
- Bowlby, J. (1980). Attachment and loss: Vol. 3. Loss: Sadness and depression. Penguin.
- Burke, C. J. (2017). The impact of fatherlessness for African American females: A phenomenological study of identity, esteem, and protective factors [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Regent University.
- Carlson, M. J. (2006). Family structure, father involvement, and adolescent behavioral outcomes. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 68(1), 137–154. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2006.00239.x
- Cohen, J. (1992). A power primer. Psychological Bulletin, 112(1), 155–159. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.112.1.155
- Doinita, N. E. (2015). Adult attachment, self-esteem and emotional intelligence. Procedia–Social and Behavioral Sciences, 187, 570–574. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.03.106
10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.03.106 Google Scholar
- Erol, R. Y., & Orth, U. (2013). Actor and partner effects of self-esteem on relationship satisfaction and the mediating role of secure attachment between the partners. Journal of Research in Personality, 47(1), 26–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2012.11.003
- Fraley, R. C., Waller, N. G., & Brennan, K. A. (2000). An item response theory analysis of self-report measures of adult attachment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78(2), 350–365. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.78.2.350
- Francis, A. A. M. (2012). Adolescent girls' perspectives on their relationship with their nonresident fathers [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Walden University.
- Huppert, F. A. (2009). Psychological well-being: Evidence regarding its causes and consequences. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 1(2), 137–164. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1758-0854.2009.01008.x
- Hussain, S., & Munaf, S. (2011). Father behavior in childhood: The predictor of psychological adjustment in adulthood. FWU Journal of Social Sciences, 5(2), 71–85.
- James, J., Ellis, B. J., Schlomer, G. L., & Garber, J. (2012). Sex-specific pathways to early puberty, sexual debut, and sexual risk taking: Tests of an integrated evolutionary–developmental model. Developmental Psychology, 48(3), 687–702. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0026427
- Katz, J., & van der Kloet, E. (2010). The first man in her life: Father emotional responsiveness during adolescence and college women's sexual refusal behaviors. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 38(4), 344–356. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2010.493474
- Levy, K. N., Ellison, W. D., Scott, L. N., & Bernecker, S. L. (2011). Attachment style. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 67(2), 193–203. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20756
- Lopez, V., & Corona, R. (2012). Troubled relationships: High-risk Latina adolescents and nonresident fathers. Journal of Family Issues, 33(6), 715–744. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X11434915
- Luo, J., Wang, L.-G., & Gao, W.-B. (2012). The influence of the absence of fathers and the timing of separation on anxiety and self-esteem of adolescents: A cross-sectional survey. Child: Care, Health and Development, 38(5), 723–731. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01304.x
- Mather, M. (2010). U.S. children in single-mother families [Data brief]. Population Reference Bureau. https://www.prb.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/single-motherfamilies.pdf
- McLanahan, S., Tach, L., & Schneider, D. (2013). The causal effects of father absence. Annual Review of Sociology, 39, 399–427. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-071312-145704
- National Center for Fathering. (n.d.). The extent of fatherlessness. http://fathers.com/statistics-and-research/the-extent-of-fatherlessness/
- Neff, K. D. (2011). Self-compassion, self-esteem, and well-being. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 5(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-9004.2010.00330.x
10.1111/j.1751-9004.2010.00330.x Google Scholar
- Neff, K. D., & Beretvas, S. N. (2013). The role of self-compassion in romantic relationships. Self and Identity, 12(1), 78–98. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298868.2011.639548
- Newland, L. A., Chen, H.-H., & Coyl-Shepherd, D. D. (2013). Associations among father beliefs, perceptions, life context, involvement, child attachment and school outcomes in the U.S. and Taiwan. Fathering: A Journal of Theory, Research, and Practice About Men as Fathers, 11(1), 3–30. https://doi.org/10.3149/fth.1101.3
10.3149/fth.1101.3 Google Scholar
- Nouman, H., Enosh, G., & Niselbaum-Atzur, P. (2016). The role of parental communication, child's wishes and child's gender in social workers' custody recommendations. Children and Youth Services Review, 70, 302–308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.09.034
- Pew Research Center. (2010). The decline of marriage and rise of new families. https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2010/11/18/the-decline-of-marriage-and-rise-of-new-families/
- Pougnet, E., Serbin, L. A., Stack, D. M., Ledingham, J. E., & Schwartzman, A. E. (2012). The intergenerational continuity of fathers' absence in a socioeconomically disadvantaged sample. Journal of Marriage and Family, 74(3), 540–555. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2012.00962.x
- Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton University Press. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400876136
10.1111/j.1559-1816.2002.tb02765.x Google Scholar
- Ryff, C. D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(6), 1069–1081. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.57.6.1069
- Ryff, C. D., & Keyes, C. L. M. (1995). The structure of psychological well-being revisited. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69(4), 719–727. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.69.4.719
- Sibley, C. G., & Liu, J. H. (2004). Short-term temporal stability and factor structure of the Revised Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR-R) measure of adult attachment. Personality and Individual Differences, 36(4), 969–975. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(03)00165-X
- Simpson, J. A., Griskevicius, V., Kuo, S. I.-C., Sung, S., & Collins, W. A. (2012). Evolution, stress, and sensitive periods: The influence of unpredictability in early versus late childhood on sex and risky behavior. Developmental Psychology, 48(3), 674–686. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027293
- Springer, K. W., & Hauser R. M. (2006). An assessment of the construct validity of Ryff's Scales of Psychological Well-Being: Method, mode, and measurement effects. Social Science Research, 35(4), 1080–1102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2005.07.004
- U.S. Census Bureau. (2019). America's families and living arrangements: 2014. https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2014/demo/families/cps-2014.html
- Warner, R. M. (2013). Applied statistics: From bivariate through multivariate techniques ( 2nd ed.). Sage.
- Wei, M., Russell, D. W., Mallinckrodt, B., & Vogel, D. L. (2007). The Experiences in Close Relationship Scale (ECR)–Short Form: Reliability, validity, and factor structure. Journal of Personality Assessment, 88(2), 187–204. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223890701268041
