Relationship between transformational leadership and adult attachment in licensed behavioral health leaders

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine if and to what extent there is a relationship between transformational leadership and the dimensions of adult attachment (i.e., Anxious and Avoidant) in U.S. licensed behavioral health leaders. The theoretical frameworks of transformational leadership and adult attachment addressed two research questions with corresponding hypotheses. A quantitative methodology and correlational design addressed the following research questions (1) Is there a statistically significant relationship between transformational leadership and Anxious attachment in U.S. licensed behavioral health leaders? (2) Is there a statistically significant relationship between transformational leadership and Avoidant attachment in U.S. licensed behavioral health leaders? Qualtrics recruited 120 licensed behavioral health leaders to address the research questions. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ 5X-Short leader form) and Experiences in Close Relationship Scale-Short form (ECR-S), were used to address the research problem. Results of the Spearman's rank-order correlational analysis indicated a non-significant small, negative association between transformational leadership (M = 2.88, SD = .56, N = 120) and Anxious attachment (M = 2.47 SD = .81, N = 120), rho (119) = -.09, p = .317. and a significant small-to-moderate, negative association between transformational leadership (M = 2.88, SD = .56, N = 120) and Avoidant attachment style leadership (M = 3.89, SD = 1.16, N = 120), rho (119) = -.268, p = .003. The study findings suggest future research within transformational leadership and adult attachment domains, as well as replicating this study, post the COVID-19 pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)