Understanding abusive relationships of immigrant adolescents through their attachments and separations

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine attachment styles of immigrant adolescents and its association with their involvement in abusive relationships. Literature suggests that immigration-related separation and other stressors leads to parental conflict and development of insecure attachment amongst immigrant adolescents which are responsible for mediating and moderating intimate partner violence. Childhood maltreatment, family conflict, self-esteem and investment in the relationship were discussed as the risk factors for abusive relationships. It was concluded that immigrant adolescents are at higher risk of being involved in abusive relationships due to their insecure attachment style and presence of the risk factors mentioned above. It was recommended that to fully understand and address the problem of abusive relationships among the immigrant adolescents, the deep lying issue of insecure attachment and parental conflict be acknowledged.