A Latent Transition Analysis of Perceived Parental Security Profiles Across 33 Months of Adolescence

• Published date: 01 April 2020
• Author: James R. Andretta,Grant B. Morgan,Kevin E. Wells,Michael T. McKay
• Date: 01 April 2020
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12418

J R. ABridgetown Psychological, Portland, Oregon

G B. M  K E. WBaylor University

M T. MKRoyal College of Surgeons in Ireland

A Latent Transition Analysis of Perceived Parental

Security Proles Across 33Months of Adolescence

Objective: To examine associations among per-

ceived parental security (PPS) proles—that

is, perceived communication quality with one’s

parents as well as feelings of trust and alienation

toward them—and outcomes across33 months of

adolescence.

Background: Using cross-sectional data,

researchers have developed PPS proles by

categorizing adolescents based on Inventory of

Parentand Peer Attachment—Revised (IPPA–R)

scores. Researchers have not examined the

stability of PPS proles during adolescence.

Method: PPS among early adolescents

(N=2,032; Mage =12.5;female =50%) was

assessed using IPPA–R scores, and proles

were identied using latent prole analysis.

A mover–stayer, latent transition analysis

was used to examine the degree to which

moving between or staying within a partic-

ular PPS prole was associated with ve

outcomes—emotional, social, and academic

self-efcacy, sensation seeking, and subjective

life expectancy—in this developmental period.

Results: At both data collections, proles were

not strongly associated with sex. Low-Security

proles were disproportionately represented

Department of Psychology, Royal College of Surgeons in

Ireland, Beaux Lane House, Mercer Street, Dublin 2, Ireland

(michaelmckay@rcsi.com).

Key Words: adolescents, parental security,self-efcacy, sen-

sation seeking, subjective life expectancy.

by individuals eligible for a free school lunch.

Transitionsto, or remaining in, the Low-Security

prole between Wave 1 and Wave 2 were gener-

ally associated with unfavorable outcomes.

Conclusion: PPS proles and transitions

accounted for a parent bond construct that was

strongly associated with meaningful outcomes.

Therefore, person-centered analyses of IPPA–R

scores, such as latent prole and transition

analyses, are preferred methods of accounting

for PPS in adolescence.

Implications: IPPA–Rmight be a useful tool for

counselors working with adolescents, because

scores point to tangible targets for intervention:

(a) feelings of alienation from parents, (b) qual-

ity of communication with parents, and (c) feel-

ing trusted by parents.

Perceived parental security (PPS) refers to an

individual’s appraisal of communication with

parents as well as his or her feelings of trust and

alienation in the parent–child relationship (van

der Vorst, Engels, Meeus, & Dekovic, 2006).

The Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment

(IPPA;Armsden & Greenberg, 1987) is the most

commonly employed index of this construct.

Based on Bowlby’s attachment theory (1977),

Armsden and Greenberg developed the IPPA

with the intention of assessing both felt security

(condence in parents’ commitment to child)

and proximity seeking (efforts to be close).

Although almost all IPPA studies have included

Family Relations 69 (April 2020): 247–261247

DOI:10.1111/fare.12418