Emerging adulthood: Patterns of interpersonal relationships, alcohol consumption, and psychopathology

Emerging adulthood (EA) is a transitional stage between adolescence and adulthood, in which identity and new social roles are developed. The bonds established in childhood influence psychopathology, alcohol consumption, and the interpersonal relationships that will later be established, with insecure attachment being a risk factor for psychopathology. The aim is to find out the factors associated with psychological distress in EA. After signing informed consent, participants (n = 217) aged 18-25 years (70% female) responded to a survey assessing adult attachment (CR), psychopathology (SA-45), emotional dependence (ED) (IRIDS-100) and alcohol consumption (AUDIT). Insecure attachment styles (61.8%), codependence (CD) (35%) and anxious -depressive symptomatology (M = 6.87, SD = 5.17; and M = 5.53, SD = 4.42) respectively predominated. A poorer self-model was related to greater psychological distress and dysfunctional interpersonal relationships. Alcohol consumption was positively related to greater psychopathology and ED. The study underlines that it would be interesting to promote secure attachments in childhood to prevent psychological distress in the future, as well as dysfunctional interpersonal relationships.