Family Matters: The Influence of Parental Role and Attachment on Self-Efficacy and Social Anxiety
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Graduate
Major
Clinical Psychology
2nd Student Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Junior
2nd Student Major
Psychology
2nd Student Minor
Sociology
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Amanda Joyce, PhD
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
The goal of this project was to examine the links between attachment style, social anxiety, and self efficacy. Previous research has suggested that individuals who exhibit insecure attachment styles with their parents tend to have higher levels of social anxiety (Heimberg, Hart, Schneier, & Liebowitz 2001). Additionally, Wei, Russell, & Zalalik (2005) indicated that individuals who report insecure attachment styles tend to have lower levels of self efficacy. One limitation of previous research on parental attachment is that it has tended to focus primarily on attachment to one’s mother or attachment to parents in general. Often, attachment is measured in adults by measuring their romantic attachment rather than parental attachment. This study would like to see how the attachment styles to each parental figure influence the constructs of social anxiety and self efficacy, and whether or not they influence them in different ways. In the current study, participants (n= 70, 81% female), answered several questionnaires measuring parental attachment, romantic attachment, self-efficacy, and social anxiety. Data collection for this project is ongoing, but preliminary results indicate the possibility of differences in the effects of insecure attachment with different parental roles have on these outcomes, specifically in regards to self-efficacy. Further research is needed to confirm these trends. If supported, these data would suggest that different parental roles influence the development of self efficacy and social anxiety in different ways.
Fall Scholars Week 2019 Event
Psychology: Completed Projects
Family Matters: The Influence of Parental Role and Attachment on Self-Efficacy and Social Anxiety
The goal of this project was to examine the links between attachment style, social anxiety, and self efficacy. Previous research has suggested that individuals who exhibit insecure attachment styles with their parents tend to have higher levels of social anxiety (Heimberg, Hart, Schneier, & Liebowitz 2001). Additionally, Wei, Russell, & Zalalik (2005) indicated that individuals who report insecure attachment styles tend to have lower levels of self efficacy. One limitation of previous research on parental attachment is that it has tended to focus primarily on attachment to one’s mother or attachment to parents in general. Often, attachment is measured in adults by measuring their romantic attachment rather than parental attachment. This study would like to see how the attachment styles to each parental figure influence the constructs of social anxiety and self efficacy, and whether or not they influence them in different ways. In the current study, participants (n= 70, 81% female), answered several questionnaires measuring parental attachment, romantic attachment, self-efficacy, and social anxiety. Data collection for this project is ongoing, but preliminary results indicate the possibility of differences in the effects of insecure attachment with different parental roles have on these outcomes, specifically in regards to self-efficacy. Further research is needed to confirm these trends. If supported, these data would suggest that different parental roles influence the development of self efficacy and social anxiety in different ways.