Parent-Child Role Reversal and Attachment Function in High School Students

Abstract

This study aimed to verify the relationship between parent-child role reversal and child’s attachment function, testing the hypothesis that role reversal may impede the child’s attachment function. Some 183 high school students replied to a questionnaire which consisted of items for measuring role reversal and attachment function, including three factors: safe haven, secure base and maintenance of proximity. Correlation and multiple regression analyses revealed the following tendencies. All three aspects of attachment function are impeded by role reversal, in particular when parents do not respond to the child’s “amae” tendencies, and when the child is not able to express his/her own “amae” to the parents. In addition, cluster analysis and ANOVA showed that the role-reversal group suffers impediment of the safe haven and secure base attachment functions.