How adolescent’s family satisfaction and attachment quality correlate in cases of domestic violence

Abstract

This research examined the relationships between adolescents’ attachment, communication, trust and alienation with their parents and how satisfied those adolescents are with their family life with the independent variable of having or not experienced domestic violence. Data was collected using the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment – Revised (IPPA – R) and the Kansas Family Life Satisfaction Scale (KFLS) and 131 adolescents participated. Results indicate a high correlation between attachment, family life satisfaction and domestic violence, with mothers’ attachment, trust and communication ranking higher than fathers’. Father communication and mother trust predict family life satisfaction and exposure to domestic violence had a direct effect on family satisfaction. Cluster analysis revealed three different group. Data shows that attachment to parents remains an important aspect of family relationship and domestic violence is a phenomenon that moderates the level of family life satisfaction. Detailed findings are presented and implications and research limits are discussed.

Keywords

• adolescents
• domestic violence
• life satisfaction
• communication