Attachment Relationships and Life Satisfaction During Emerging Adulthood

Abstract

The present study examined peer attachment (friend attachment and romantic attachment) as potential mediator in the relationship between parental attachment (attachment to mother and father) and life satisfaction in emerging adulthood. The sample comprised 385 Italian emerging-adults aged from 18 to 25 years. The technique of structural equation modeling was applied to investigate the hypothesized model. Results indicated that both parental and peer attachment were positively related to life satisfaction, with romantic attachment being the stronger unique predictor. Further, only romantic attachment wholly mediates the association between attachment to mother and life satisfaction. Findings are reviewed in relation to past research and implications for professional practice are discussed.