Relationship between parental attachment and children´s optimism

Abstract

Studies on optimism have experienced significant growth. Within the framework of associated factors, one line of research that has received less attention in this area is the influence that certain parental characteristics have on the development of optimistic responses in their children. This research provides two studies this field. In Study 1, N = 189 dyads (parent and child), we examined the relationship between parental attachment and children’s optimism. Study 2 (N = 327 children and adolescents) examines the relationship between children’s attachment and their optimism.The results demonstrated an association between parental attachment avoidance and children’s optimism, as well as a relationship between attachment quality and optimism in the child and youth population. These results suggest that attachment with parental figures could favour the development of dispositional optimism.