This study examined whether attachment theory could be used to shed
light on the often high degree of discordance between self- and observer
ratings of behavioral functioning and symptomatology. Interview-based
assessments of attachment organization, using the Adult Attachment
Interview, were examined as predictors of the lack of agreement between
self- and other reports of behavioral and emotional problems among 176
moderately at-risk adolescents. Lack of agreement was measured in terms of
concordance of adolescent and parent or close friend report on equivalent
measures of behavioral and emotional adjustment. Insecure–dismissing
attachment was linked to less agreement in absolute terms between self-
and mother reports of externalizing symptoms, and between adolescent and
close friend reports of behavioral conduct. Insecure–preoccupied
attachment was associated with higher levels of adolescent reporting of
internalizing and externalizing symptoms relative to parent reports of
adolescent symptomatology. The findings suggest that attachment
organization may be one factor that accounts for individual differences in
the degree of discordance between self- and other reports of symptoms in
adolescence.