Date of Conferral

11-12-2024

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Natalie Costa

Abstract

Forced assimilation of Native American peoples has led to the destruction of their traditional ways of life and contributed to heightened rates of Native American children in foster care, increased domestic violence, substance abuse, alcoholism, and poverty. The purpose of this study was to understand associations between perceived parenting behaviors and current adult attachment within Native American communities and whether those associations were moderated by historical loss. The attachment theory and historical trauma theory were used as theoretical foundations for the study. Research questions for this nonexperimental quantitative study involved associations between warmth and involvement and anxious and avoidant attachment behaviors during adulthood using the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ) and Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) instruments, as well as the Historical Loss Scale. 11 individuals participated in this study who were 18 or older, lived in the United States, and identified as Native American. A series of individual simple linear regressions were run for research questions. However, due to the inability to obtain a sufficient sample size, statistically significant results were not found. Further research on this topic and better access to the proposed population are recommended to support a clearer understanding of how parenting behaviors, attachment dimensions, and historical loss interact among Native Americans. This study contributes to positive social change through bringing awareness to the relationships dynamics within the Native American family system and the impact historical loss is having on that population in order to support healing for this community.

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