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How the quality of the early mother-infant relationship Influences decision making in risky situations later in life

Author

Melissa Keane, University of the Pacific

Date of Award

2014

Document Type

Dissertation - Pacific Access Restricted

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Department

Educational Administration and Leadership

First Advisor

Linda Webster

First Committee Member

Lynn Beck

Second Committee Member

Justin Low

Third Committee Member

Amy Scott

Abstract

The present study examined attachment disorganization and executive function as predictors of adolescent risky behavior. Additionally, the present study examined how attachment disorganization and executive function may differentially predict adolescent risky behavior for males and females. Measures of executive function, mother-infant attachment, adolescent risky behavior, family income, and gender were obtained from adolescent participants of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (NICHD-SECCYD). Data was analyzed through structural equation modeling (SEM). Executive function, attachment, and risky behavior were unrelated in the study sample. Income was a significant predictor of attachment for females, but not males. Income was an equal and significant predictor of executive function for both males and females. Income was also a significant predictor of risky behavior for males and females, though a stronger predictor for females. Limitations and ideas for future research were discussed.

Pages

64

ISBN

9781321660012

Recommended Citation

Keane, Melissa. (2014). How the quality of the early mother-infant relationship Influences decision making in risky situations later in life. University of the Pacific, Dissertation - Pacific Access Restricted. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/111

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.