Faculty Publications

Attachment To Peers And School: Longitudinal Moderators Of The Relation Between Caregiver Psychological Distress And Adolescent Hopelessness

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Attachment to peers, Attachment to school, Black American, Caregiver’s mental health, Hopelessness, Youth

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Journal of Youth and Adolescence

Abstract

Research has yet to determine how relationships outside of the family system may buffer negative outcomes associated with hopelessness among racial minority youth. In a sample of Black American youth (N = 512; 49% females) and their parents or caregivers, this study used longitudinal growth models to explore whether youth relationships (attachment to peers and attachment to school) moderated the association between caregiver distress (depressive symptoms and traumatic stress), and youth hopelessness. Adolescents’ gender was examined to determine if there were gender differences present in these associations. Four linear growth models showed a significant change in levels of hopelessness over time for youth and a significant positive relation between caregiver distress and youth level of hopelessness. Attachment to peers and attachment to school did not equally moderate the relation between caregiver psychological distress and youth hopelessness. The type of caregiver distress had a differential effect on youth hopelessness in the context of the moderation models and based on gender. The type of caregiver distress had a differential effect on youth hopelessness in the context of the moderation models and based on gender. Implications for the importance of non-familial attachments among Black American youth with distressed parents are discussed.

Department

Department of Social Work

Department

Center for Educational Transformation

Original Publication Date

1-1-2021

DOI of published version

10.1007/s10964-020-01375-y

Repository

UNI ScholarWorks, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa

Language

en

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