Avoidance, Anxiety Towards Parents, and Self-Acceptance of Adolescents in the System of Higher Secondary Education

BACKGROUND:

A close relationship between a parent and a child and parental acceptance can mediate the appropriate self-acceptance of an adolescent, which is an important variable related to personality and a pillar of emotional health. In the paper we present the conclusions of a research study about the quality of the attachment towards parents and self-acceptance of adolescents at Czech secondary schools.

AIMS:

The aim of the study was the exploration of the relation between the attachment style and self-acceptance.

SAMPLE:

The research sample consists of 3,239 adolescents aged 15–19 in the system of higher secondary education.

METHODS:

As the research methods we used the Unconditional SelfAcceptance Questionnaire and Relationship Structures Questionnaire.

RESULTS:

We assumed that higher avoidance and anxiety towards the parent are closely related to the reduction of self-acceptance. The results confirm the assumption about the strong relation between the attachment composed of avoidance and anxiety and low self-acceptance of adolescents.

CONCLUSIONS:

In relation to the optimal individual development of adolescents we recommend the closeness of the parent-child relationship and parental acceptance, which can mediate the appropriate self-acceptance of adolescents.