Abstract

Adolescent romantic relationships have significant implications for emotional adjustment and mental health. Thus, it is important to understand how adolescents cope with romantic loss. This study examined the extent to which middle adolescents' attachment to mothers and fathers is associated with their ways of coping with a romantic break up. A sample of 51 adolescents completed self-report measures of coping with a romantic breakup and attachment. Hierarchical regressions revealed that attachment to mother (although not father) was positively related with adolescents' ways of coping; and some of these relationships appear to be mediated by stress. As hypothesized, more anxiously attached adolescents coped by using more social support, problem solving, rumination, and confrontive behaviors. More insecurely attached adolescents in general (high on anxiety and/or avoidance dimensions) used more escape-avoidant coping. The findings underscore the importance of attachment to mother in the development of coping strategies for affect regulation in romantic relationships. Implications for prevention and interventions programs for youths are discussed.