An attachment-based pilot program to promote adolescent adjustment to parental divorce

• Published in: Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 44 - 11
• Main Authors: Tay-Karapas, Karla, Guzmán-González, Mónica, Gómez, Fabiola, Comino, Priscila, Salaberria, Karmele, Bahamondes, Joaquín
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 30.03.2024; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adaptation; Adolescents; Attachment; Child & adolescent psychiatry; Child development; Cohabitation; Divorce; Domestic relations; Emotions; Families & family life; Intervention; Life satisfaction; Negative affect; Parental attachment; Parental divorce; Parents & parenting; Pilot projects; Positive affect; Teenagers; Well being; Chile; Intervention; Parental divorce; Adolescents; Parental attachment; Positive affect; Life satisfaction; Negative affect
• ISSN: 1753-2000; 1753-2000
• DOI: 10.1186/s13034-024-00729-9

The study aimed to assess the impact of an attachment-based intervention on adolescent adaptation to parental divorce. The Adolescent Adjustment Pilot Program to Parental Divorce (AAPPD) employed an experimental group format, targeting improvements in various adaptation indicators (life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect). The sample comprised 30 Chilean adolescents aged 12 to 16 (M = 13.6, SD = 1.35), with 60% females and 40% males. After the intervention, the adolescents showed a decrease in negative affect at 6 and 12 months. However, no differences were identified in other dimensions of subjective well-being considered as indicators of divorce adaptation. The findings prompt discussion on theoretical and clinical implications.