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Friendship Attachment Style Moderates the Effect of Adolescent Exposure to Violence on Emerging Adult Depression and Anxiety Trajectories

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Abstract

Exposure to violence during adolescence is associated with increased risk behaviors and mental health problems in adulthood. Friendship attachment during adolescence may, however, mitigate the negative effects of exposure to violence on trajectories of depression and anxiety in young adulthood. In this study, we used growth curve modeling to examine associations between exposure to violence and mental health outcomes, followed by multi-group analyses with friendship attachment as the moderator. The sample was drawn from a longitudinal study (12 waves; 1994–2012) of 676 (54% female) urban high school students. We found strong positive associations between exposure to violence during adolescence and later self-reported depressive and anxiety symptoms. Notably, securely attached adolescents reported faster decreases in mental health symptoms as a function of violence relative to their insecurely attached peers as they transitioned into adulthood.

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Funding

This research was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Grant No. DA07484. PI: Marc A. Zimmerman. The research reported here does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Authors’ Contributions

J.H. and S.C. conceived of the study, participated in its design, performed the statistical analysis and coordination and drafted the manuscript; E.W. and A.C. participated in the interpretation of the data and writing of the manuscript; M.Z. conceived of the parent study, participated in the current study design and coordination and helped to draft the manuscript. All authors participated in revisions to the original manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Justin E. Heinze & Marc A. Zimmerman

  2. Department of Biostatistics, College of Global Public Health, New York University, Room 1014, 715 Broadway, New York, NY, 10003, USA

    Stephanie H. Cook, Erica P. Wood & Anne C. Dumadag

  3. Department of Social and Behavioral Health, College of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA

    Stephanie H. Cook

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  1. Justin E. Heinze
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Heinze, J.E., Cook, S.H., Wood, E.P. et al. Friendship Attachment Style Moderates the Effect of Adolescent Exposure to Violence on Emerging Adult Depression and Anxiety Trajectories. J Youth Adolescence 47, 177–193 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-017-0729-x

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