Parent-peer attachment, negative automatic thoughts and psychological problems among Pakistani adolescents: A moderated mediation model

The associations between attachment relationships, negative automatic thoughts, and psychological problems are theoretically supported and well-entrenched in the literature. Based on the integration of the attachment theory and the cognitive theory, the current study investigated: (a) the mediation effect of negative automatic thoughts in the linkages between attachment relationships (maternal, paternal, and peer attachment) and psychological problems (depressive and anxiety symptoms); and (b) the moderating role of adolescent’s gender in the mediation model. The data in this cross sectional study were collected from 936 Pakistani late adolescents (mean age = 17.79 years, SD = .69) studied in Rawalpindi district colleges, through multi-stage cluster sampling. Participants completed a set of questionnaires including Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment-Urdu, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale and Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire. The models were tested through structural equation modelling. Results indicated that quality of maternal and peer attachments were indirectly linked with depressive and anxiety symptoms via negative automatic thoughts, paternal attachment was directly and indirectly associated with depressive symptoms, while parental attachment was indirectly related to anxiety symptoms. Additionally, the moderated mediation analysis showed that for females, quality of maternal, paternal, and peer attachment showed indirect association with depressive and anxiety symptoms. For males, only paternal and peer attachment had significant association with depressive and anxiety symptoms through negative automatic thoughts. The current study enhances our understanding of the distinct role of attachment security with mother, father and peers on the differential developmental outcomes of male and female adolescents. Implications are further discussed in the article.