Project Fathers
Date of Award
2007
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Social Sciences
First Advisor
Ryan, Kimberly
Keywords
Father Figures, Peer Attachment, Attachment, Father Attachment, Phares, Vicky
Area of Concentration
Psychology
Abstract
This paper presents an empirical study investigating the relations between biological father/father figure attachment and peer attachment among young adult males. Past research has examined the associations between parental attachment and peer attachment in pre-adolescents and children, this study seeks to expand these results in order to apply these findings to young adult males. A short survey was distributed in an online format and from the pool of respondents, attachment scores based on trust, communication, and alienation were analyzed with respect to ones biological father, father figure (when applicable), and ones peers. Results showed that relationship with the father figure later in ones life, rather than the biological father, has a greater influence on the quality of ones peer relationships in adulthood. Total peer attachment was positively correlated with father figure attachment, father figure trust, father figure communication, and father figure alienation. T-test comparisons showed that adult men who have a father figure show higher levels of trust with their peers than adult males who do not have a father figure. Also adult males who have a father figure have more quality peer communication than adult males without a father figure. These results are in line with the theory of these attachment types and their suggested internal working models of the self and others, and imply that attachment with the father figure plays an important role in their sons' peer relationships. These findings may be an important consideration in the study of how attachment functions later in the lives of young adult males, although future research is needed.
Recommended Citation
Baez, John Buenaventura, "Project Fathers" (2007). Theses & ETDs. 3739.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/3739
Rights
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