The Prediction of Adult Attachment Orientation from Perceived Maternal and Paternal Parenting Characteristics

The study aimed to know which perceived parenting characteristics predict adult attachment orientations. A survey was distributed among 221 single Filipino young professionals, ages 20-33, with a mean age of 25.29. To measure the attachment orientations of the participants, the study used the Experience in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) Adult Attachment Questionnaire by Fraley, Waller and Brennan (2000). To assess parenting characteristics, the participants were asked to separately rate their mother and father on warmth, inconsistency, and rejection. Regression analysis was done to analyze which of the parenting characteristics predict attachment-related anxiety and avoidance. Results showed that mother's warmth predicts lower anxiety attachment while father's inconsistency predicts higher anxiety attachment. On the other hand, father's rejection predicts higher avoidance attachment. Gender of the child did not significantly moderate the relation between parenting characteristics and attachment orientation. This study validated the importance of both mothers' and fathers' parenting characteristics in influencing attachment orientations.