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Meta-analyses show that insecure attachment makes children and adolescents more vulnerable to the development of psychopathology. There has been a lack of research investigating the mechanisms that explain the link between insecure attachment and internalizing as well as externalizing problems. However, a thorough understanding of these mechanisms is necessary to improve the knowledge about and treatment of these problems. Therefore, the current paper offers a review of the recent growth in attachment-related developmental psychopathology research. Studies demonstrate that more insecurely attached individuals are more vulnerable to the development of psychopathology through different maladaptive behavioral, emotional and cognitive regulation mechanisms (support-seeking behavior, emotion regulation strategies, effortful control, and cognitive attachment-related processes). The finding that the quality of the attachment relationship is linked to a variety of well-defined regulation mechanisms not only explains why insecure attachment is a transdiagnostic risk factor, but also offers starting points to further deepen and strengthen the current practice of behavioral therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]