A comparative study on the predictive influence of family function and attachment style in foreseeing externalized behavioral problems in children

Introduction: The present research aimed to foresee externalization behaviors based on attachment and family function in the students of elementary schools located in Tehran. Materials and Methods: The sample of this multivariate correlation model consisted of 341 elementary students of Tehran along with their parents which were selected via a multistage random sampling method in 2017-2018. The research instrument of this study including questionnaires of family function, child behavior and attachment analysis. The results were analyzed through multiple regression analysis. Results: The findings of this study show that attachment and family functionality had significant relationship with externalizing behaviors (P 0.05 and P 0.01). Furthermore, attachment anxiety, self-control and relationships had the foremost role in the predicting the behaviors. Attachment and family function were able to predict extrinsic behavior (16% and 6% respectively). Conclusion: It seems that attachment and family function were able to predict extrinsic behavior in children