The present study examined the relationship between parent attachment, relationship closeness, ego-identity development and satisfaction with life. The participants included 202 male and female junior and senior undergraduate college students aged 18 to 28 years old from an urban-baccalaureate degree granting university. The majority of participants were Caucasian females with a mean age of 22 years old. Participants completed four questionnaires including the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status (EOM-EIS), Index of Parent and Peer Attachment (Parent only; IPPA), Extended Satisfaction with Life Scale (ESWLS), The Relationship Closeness Inventory (RCI), and an original demographic survey.
Four research questions were studied. Findings indicated significant gender differences for one measure of ego-identity. Males were found to have higher scores on foreclosed identity than females. Significant differences were found between secure and insecure mother attachment for foreclosed ego identity. Results of regression analysis indicated that father alienation was a predictor of life satisfaction in all areas except satisfaction with school and satisfaction with relationships. The direction of these relationships was negative, indicating that higher satisfaction with life was associated with decreased father alienation.
Limitations to this study included responses being based on self-report. Response bias may have resulted due to the participants providing answers they felt the researcher wanted. Also, this study did not include any preexisting forms of psychopathology and did not account for previous traumatic events.
This research illustrates the relationships between parent attachment, ego-identity and satisfaction with life. There is a growing need for psychologists to consider the role of parent attachment beyond childhood and into adulthood. Both mother and father attachment should be considered and studied to further minimize factors that decrease satisfaction with life such as: anxiety , depression and other mental illnesses.
