The moderating role of family structure on the association between attachment functioning and emotion regulations among vulnerable children in South Africa

Abstract

This study explores the moderating role of family structure on the relationship between attachment functioning and emotion regulation among vulnerable children in South Africa. The research employs a quantitative, cross-sectional design, utilizing a sample of 33 children aged 7-12 from the Hlatlaganya Drop-In-Centre. The Kinetic Family Drawing (KFD) and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (ERQ-CA) were administered to assess attachment functioning and emotion regulation strategies, respectively. Crosstabulation and 2-Way ANOVA were employed to examine associations and interaction effects among attachment functioning, emotion regulation strategies, and family structure. The results indicate a significant association between attachment security and the use of cognitive reappraisal as an emotion regulation strategy. Furthermore, family structure was found to moderate this relationship, with the impact of attachment security on cognitive reappraisal being more pronounced in single-parent households compared to two-parent households. No significant effects were observed for expressive suppression. These findings underscore the importance of considering family structure in interventions aimed at enhancing emotion regulation in children, particularly those from single-parent households. The study highlights the need for culturally sensitive measures and further research to elucidate the complexities of attachment and emotion regulation within diverse family contexts in South Africa.