A Predictive Study of Psychological Capital and Its Relationship with Demographics Factors, Attachment Styles, Peer Relations, and Quality of Friendship among Adolescents in Islamabad

Abstract

Objecives. The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between attachment styles, friendship quality and psychological capital in adolescents.  Moreover, different demographics variables like age, birth order, number of siblings, number of close friends, time spent with friends were also studied along the study variables.

Method. A sample of 300 students (aged 12-20) were selected belonging to different schools and colleges in Islamabad. Relationship Questionnaire (Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991), Inventory of Parent and Peer attachment (Armesdon & Greenberg, 1987), McGill Friendship Questionnaire- Friendship Functions (Mendelson & Aboud, 2014) and Psychological Capital Scale (Afzal, 2013) were employed to measure the research variables.

Results. Results of the study showed that Peer attachment, secure attachment style, fearful attachment style, age and number of close friends significantly predict psychological capital. Furthermore, friendship quality, secure attachment style, fearful attachment style, age, no of close friends significantly predict psychological capital. correlation analysis showed that peer attachment, friendship quality and psychological capital have significant positive relationship with for psychological capital and peer attachment, for psychological capital and friendship quality and for peer attachment and friendship quality. Results show that there is a statistically significant difference on attachment styles for psychological capital, peer attachment and friendship quality. However, hope showed non-significant difference.

Keywords. Attachment styles, friendship quality, psychological capital, adolescents