From One Nest to Another: How does attachment style relate to ethnic and religious in-group attachment for Bosnian-Herzegovinian youth?

This study builds on a long-standing interest in (social) psychological outcomes of adolescent attachment styles and attachment patterns with parents. One of the outcomes I explored is in-group identification and in-group attachment, which are especially salient in the divided society of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The present cross-sectional study involved a stratified convenience sample of 735 participants (51.7 % female), aged 16 to 21 years (M= 18.72, SD=1.54). A significant positive correlation was found between current attachment style and in-group identification (r=.17, p<.01 for ethnic, and r=.13, p<.05 for religious). The present study points to further investigations and subsequent cross-field theoretical advancements regarding the possible effects of attachment on group identification and group attachment.