Question
Is parent/child attachment a risk factor teen dating violence?
Answer
Assessing attachment in children, regardless of the caregiver being a biological parent or not, is crucial, as it significantly impacts the likelihood of victimization or perpetration in adolescence and adulthood.
To explain attachment, I often use the analogy of a swimming pool, with the parent as the structure and life experiences as the elements within. In a secure relationship, the child explores the pool freely, knowing the parental support is firm yet allowing independence. In contrast, an insecure attachment may involve a parent preventing the child from venturing too far, hindering their ability to experience life fully.
This approach helps me engage with teens and uncover their subjective experiences of attachment, which may differ from the caregiver's presentation.
This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the webinar, Teen Dating Violence: Strategies for Therapeutic Intervention, presented by Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS
