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The importance of attachment to fathers in Latinx mental health

Bibliographic Data

ID2932314
AuthorsAmanda Venta (0000-0002-1641-123X, University of Houston, corresponding author), Jesse Walker (0000-0003-2652-6177, University of Houston), Cassandra A Bailey (0000-0001-9326-3931, Sam Houston State University), Cassandra Bailey (Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX, USA), Tessa Long (Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX, USA), Alfonso Mercado (0000-0002-3127-9724, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX, USA), Cecilia Colunga-Rodríguez (0000-0003-0328-788X, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico)
Year2022
Volume39
Issue5
Pages1508-1528
Publication date2022-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Social and Personal Relationships (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0265-4075 • E-ISSN: 1460-3608
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/02654075211059444
OpenAlexW4200595308
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited39

The impact of attachment to fathers on mental health in Latinx communities is understudied and not fully understood, though extant research focusing on maternal attachment forms a solid base of knowledge regarding the importance of attachment (to mothers) on mental health. The broad aim of this study was to examine the importance of paternal attachment in relation to maternal attachment on mental health in Latinx young adults. The current study used two large, young adult samples: one collected in Latin America ( n = 774) and one collected in the United States ( n = 1084). We hypothesized that paternal attachment would be a significant predictor of internalizing (emotional symptoms), externalizing (hyperactivity, conduct problems), and interpersonal (social problems, prosocial behavior) functioning beyond maternal attachment. Exploratory analyses examined whether paternal communication, trust, or feelings of alienation, three established facets of attachment, differentially related to mental health outcomes. Findings broadly supported hypotheses, as attachment to fathers made a significant, incremental contribution to all outcome variables. Further, paternal alienation emerged as a potent potential risk factor, while paternal trust emerged as a potential protective factor for mental health outcomes in these samples. This study is the first to endeavor to understand the links between paternal attachment and mental health beyond maternal attachment in two distinct samples with varying immigration statuses, countries of residence, and cultural norms and has important implications for working with Latinx populations from a clinical, assessment, and research standpoint

Alienation · Attachment theory · Developmental psychology · Extant taxon · Feeling · Interpersonal communication · Mental health · Prosocial behavior · Protective factor · Psychiatry · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology

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  • The importance of attachment to fathers in Latinx mental health

    Open Access•Amanda Venta, Jesse Walker et al.•Journal of Social and Personal…•2022

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  • The importance of attachment to fathers in Latinx mental health

    Open Access•Amanda Venta, Jesse Walker et al.•Journal of Social and Personal…•2022

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Unique citing works4
Citations per year1
Citation span2022 - 2026 (5)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 3
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