The Effects of Perceived Parenting and Family Functioning on Adult Attachment: A Sample of Japanese University Students

Parenting styles and family functioning have been proved individually to make an important contribution to the development of adult attachment styles. However, few studies have attempted to clarify how these two factors influence adult attachment styles when taken into account simultaneously. In order to examine the relationship between adult attachment, perceived parenting, and family functioning, data derived from 1,141 males (29.6%) and 2,709 females (70.4%) were analyzed in the present study. The results indicated that perceived parenting predicted adult attachment and family functioning, while family functioning failed to significantly predict adult attachment. The present study also highlighted the fact that paternal and maternal parenting played equally important roles in shaping adult attachment styles of offspring.