Adult attachment assessed via the ASA and AAI: Empirical convergence and links with autonomic physiological responding during attachment assessments.

This study examined the empirical convergence of Attachment Script Assessment (ASA) deactivation, hyperactivation, and anomalous scripts with conceptually corresponding attachment patterns assessed via the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI), and the significance of ASA dimensions for autonomic physiological reactivity during adult attachment assessments. Young adults' (50% male; Mage = 19 years; 80% White/European American) ASA deactivation, hyperactivation, and anomalous content were significantly associated with AAI dismissing (r = .26-.38), preoccupied (r = .31-.35), and unresolved (r = .37) states of mind, respectively. ASA hyperactivation and anomalous content were associated with heightened RSA reactivity to the AAI and ASA, aligning with expectations that these attachment patterns capture the tendency to heighten expressions of negative, traumatic experiences. ASA deactivation was associated with smaller increases in electrodermal activity to the ASA-indicative of less sympathetic arousal-converging with the tendency of individuals higher in deactivation to avoid discussing attachment themes in the ASA.

The Attachment Script Assessment: Introduction of a coding system to evaluate deactivation, hyperactivation, and anomalous content.

Although research on adult attachment has yielded insight into the legacy of attachment for functioning in adulthood, methodological challenges persist in the assessment of adult attachment. The Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) offers a rich assessment of secure, insecure, and unresolved states of mind. However, it is resource intensive to administer and code. Attachment Script Assessment (ASA) offers a resource-effective alternative to the AAI. However, the ASA coding system only yields a single, security-like dimension: secure base script knowledge. Here, we introduce a complementary coding system for the ASA to assess attachment deactivation (i.e. script characterized by limited interpersonal connection and minimization of attachment problems/emotions), hyperactivation (i.e. script in which attachment-relevant problems and negative emotions are heightened), and anomalous content (i.e. script in which attachment problems contain elements of fear and/or disorientation); and we discuss the conceptual convergence of these scripts with corresponding patterns of attachment insecurity and disorganization.

Natural clues to danger: attachment behavior in threatening situations.

A fundamental principle of attachment theory is that threatening situations give rise to individual differences in the extent to which people seek proximity to close others. The current research examines the way in which attachment styles predict individual differences in attachment-relevant behavior during threatening events. We tested alternative theoretical perspectives concerning the association between adult attachment (specifically, attachment avoidance) and attachment behavior in the presence of natural clues to danger by observing couples (N = 204) when they were watching horror vs. control film excerpts. Results suggest that highly avoidant people engaged in less attachment behavior across both threatening and non-threatening situations. These findings have implications for the understanding of attachment-related processes and how working models of the self and others facilitate (or inhibit) the expression of attachment behavior.

The Mediating Role of Affect Dysregulation and Dissociation in the Relationship Between Attachment and Compulsive Online Shopping: A Path Analysis Model.

Objective: Online shopping has been described by the scientific literature both for its benefits and the potential risks when excessive usage is involved. Indeed, compulsive online shopping is commonly conceptualized as a potential behavioural addiction that substantially impacts the lives of individuals afflicted by it. In light of this, the present research aimed at exploring the association between possible risk and protective factors for compulsive online shopping, by specifically exploring the role of adult attachment, affect dysregulation, and dissociation. Method: 285 participants (75% females, 25% males; Mage = 31.57, SD = 11.379) were involved in the research and completed an online survey. The collected data was analysed implementing a path analysis model. Results: Results showed significant total effects in the relationship between secure/fearful attachment patterns and compulsive online shopping. Such associations were significantly mediated by the sequential effect of affect dysregulation and dissociation. Conclusions: The present study provides useful information to guide tailored interventions concerning both preventive activity and clinical practice.

Caregiving Antecedents of Secure Base Script Knowledge Inferred from the Adult Attachment Interview: A Comparative, Pre-Registered Analysis.

Attachment theorists claim that the quality of parental support is internalized as a mental representation of early relationship experiences. Increasingly, the content of attachment representations is evaluated by studying the extent to which adults demonstrate knowledge of the secure base script, either in the context of the Attachment Script Assessment (ASA) or during the Adult Attachment Interview (AAIsbs). Preliminary evidence from a high-risk sample showed that AAIsbs was more strongly associated with the quality of antecedent caregiving than was the more traditional approach to the measurement of adult attachment focused on the coherence of adults' AAI discourse (Waters, et al., 2017). Drawing on new coding of data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD), we found that AAIsbs around age 18 years was significantly predicted by observations of maternal (r = .21) and paternal (r = .12) sensitivity assessed prospectively through age 15 years, and with attachment security in the first three years of life (r =.08). AAIsbs was also associated with existing measures of adult attachment (rs = .31-.42). Pre-registered analyses revealed that AAIsbs performed in a manner roughly comparable to traditional, though more labor intensive approaches to coding the AAI. Based on all available evidence from the SECCYD and the pragmatic challenges and advantages of different narrative methods for assessing adult attachment representations (Booth-LaForce & Roisman, 2014; Steele et al., 2014), researchers seeking to measure attachment representations should strongly consider the strengths of the ASA in term of practicality, performance, and adaptability to various age groups across development (Waters & Waters, 2021).

Agreement between retrospective and prospective assessments of childhood abuse revisited.

A recent meta-analytic review demonstrated that retrospective assessments of childhood abuse acquired during adulthood - typically via self-report - demonstrate weak agreement with assessments of maltreatment gathered prospectively. The current report builds on prior findings by investigating the agreement of prospectively documented abuse from birth to age 17.5 years in the Minnesota Longitudinal Study of Risk and Adaptation with retrospective, Adult Attachment Interview-based assessments of childhood abuse administered at ages 19 and 26 years. In this sample, an agreement between prospective and retrospective assessments of childhood abuse was considerably stronger (κ = .56) than was observed meta-analytically. Retrospective assessments identified prospectively documented sexual abuse somewhat better than physical abuse, and the retrospective approach taken here was more sensitive to identifying abuse perpetrated by primary caregivers compared to non-caregivers based on prospective records.

The Role of Attachment Anxiety and Avoidance in Predicting Proximal Minority Stressors among Gay and Lesbian People in Italy.

As has been widely documented, minority stress affects the psychosocial well-being of gay and lesbian people. Recently, researchers have turned their attention to psychological factors that may influence the level of minority stress experienced, in order to explain individual differences in perceptions of proximal minority stressors. The present research aimed at assessing the effect of attachment avoidance and anxiety on levels of perceived stigma and internalized homonegativity. A total of 163 participants who self-identified as lesbian or gay (Mage = 32.56, SD = 10.87) were recruited and responded to the self-report questionnaires. Two multiple regression models were applied to assess the association between adult attachment and perceived stigma and internalized homonegativity. Results showed a positive association between attachment anxiety and avoidance and internalized homonegativity, as well as between attachment avoidance and perceived stigma. The emerging results demonstrate the impact of attachment anxiety and avoidance on proximal minority stressors and provide useful data for interventions addressing lesbian and gay people aimed at promoting security-based strategies of affect regulation and positive representations of self and others, which in turn may reduce the level of proximal minority stressors experienced and promote psychosocial well-being.

Attachment and body representations in adolescents with personality disorder.

BACKGROUND: Attachment theory has served as an influential framework for understanding psychopathology, partly due to reliable assessment methodology. The influence of insecure attachment on attitudes toward the body and the impact this might have for the development of psychopathology is however less well elucidated. METHOD: A total of 123 adolescents (35 with borderline personality disorder or BPD, 25 with other personality disorders [OPD] and 63 comprising a normative control group) were interviewed with the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) and the Mirror Interview (MI). The MI questions respondents about how they feel about their bodies, as they look in the mirror. RESULTS: The AAIs from the Borderline group were predominantly insecure-preoccupied and unresolved. These adolescents had significantly lower levels of a positive and integrated sense of self and body than the other groups. Regression results revealed a high loving relationship with fathers, low involving anger with father, high coherence of mind, slight derogation of mother & low levels of unresolved loss uniquely and additively predicted 55% of variance in the summary score assigned to MI responses, that is, the summary score for a Positive and Integrated Body Representation (PIBR). CONCLUSION: Unfavorable attachment experiences and current states of mind regarding attachment may give rise to problems with establishing PIBRs, and thus play a role in the development of psychopathology, especially BPD.

The influencing factors of college students' legal emotion and the mechanism of its effect on aggressive behavior.

Current research has increasingly focused on the preventive role of individual legal socialization in crime. The socialization of legal emotions is an important part of legal socialization. Building upon existing literature, this study, conducted through two sub-studies, investigated the influencing factors of legal emotions in N mainland Chinese university students and the mechanisms through which legal emotions impact aggressive behavior. In study 1, the results indicated that mother-child attachment, innovation spirit, and positive emotional expression positively predicted positive legal emotion, while mother-child attachment, dependency dimension in adult attachment, and positive emotional expression negatively predicted negative legal emotions. The anxiety dimension in adult attachment and negative emotional expression positively predicted negative legal emotions. In study 2, Positive legal emotion among university students could directly negatively predict aggressive behavior or exert influence through social alienation. Negative legal emotions could not only directly positively predict aggressive behavior but also partly affect it through social alienation. In summary, our study not only identified factors that influence legal emotions, but also found that legal emotions have an impact on aggressive behavior directly or indirectly through social alienation. Our research findings have significant implications for cultivating positive legal emotion in university students and curbing aggressive behavior. This can be achieved by promoting the legal socialization of university students and ultimately contributing to crime prevention.

Validation of the Adult Attachment Questionnaire-Revised (CAA-r).

The Adult Attachment Questionnaire-Revised and its psychometric properties are presented for dimensional and categorical evaluation of adult attachment style. Eight items were added to the original questionnaire (CAA; Melero and Cantero, 2008) that expanded avoidance dimension assessment and sensitivity evaluation. The exploratory factor analysis EFA led to 35 items grouped in 4 affective dimensions. (1) Anxiety: Need for approval, negative self-esteem, fear for rejection/abandonment and relationship anxiety; (2) Socioemotional competence: Emotional openness, sensitivity, and confidence; (3) Avoidance: Self-reliance and emotional discomfort with intimacy, and (4) Anger: Resentment, anger and intransigence. The cluster analysis confirmed the categorization of the 4 styles of attachment described by Bartholomew (Bartholomew and Horowitz, 1991). The questionnaire showed satisfactory levels of reliability and validity.

The risk and protective factors on the mental health of healthcare workers during the lockdown period due to covid-19 pandemic.

This study aimed to analyze the impact of the lockdown period due to COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health status of healthcare workers and identify the related risk factors of psychosomatic distress. We conducted an online questionnaire survey to investigate the general demographic characteristics, perceived stress level, adult attachment style (AAS), family cohesion and adaptability, social support, sleep state, emotional state, and physical health of healthcare workers during the lockdown period due to the pandemic in 2022. We compared the mental health status between doctors and nurses, and further analyzed the factors influencing sleep, emotions, physical symptoms, and severe psychosomatic distress separately. For factors that showed statistical significance in the univariate analysis, forward stepwise regression was used for logistic regression analysis to identify risk factors for the corresponding issues. A total of 622 healthcare workers participated in the survey. Among the participants, 121 (19.5%) reported sleep problems, 209 (33.6%) had negative emotional states, and 147 (23.6%) reported physical health problems. There were 48 (7.7%) healthcare workers with severe psychosomatic distress. Compared to the group of nurses, the group of doctors exhibit a higher prevalence of emotional issues, physical health problems and psychosomatic distress. Perceived stress was identified as a risk factor for sleep disturbance, while living with others during quarantine and family adaptability were identified as protective factors. Higher educational background and perceived stress were identified as risk factors for negative emotion, while subjective support was identified as a protective factor. Perceived stress and coming from a rural area were also identified as risk factors for physical health. Overall, for the comparison between the no psychosomatic distress and severe psychosomatic distress groups, perceived stress was identified as a risk factor for severe psychosomatic distress, while subjective support was identified as a protective factor. Healthcare workers' potential mental and physical health problems are related to their educational background, family cohesion and adaptability, perceived stress and social support. This makes it clearer on how to deal with and prevent adverse consequences when facing stressful situations.

Brain oscillations during emotion regulation and the two-dimensional model of adult attachment.

Emotion Regulation (ER) refers to the processes by which individuals influence their own emotions. It is a crucial aspect of human behavior, affecting everything from interpersonal relationships to mental health. The relationship between ER and Attachment Theory (AT) is pivotal. AT suggests that early bonds with primary caregivers influence future relationship expectations and behaviors. These initial experiences shape internal models of self and others, affecting how individuals regulate their emotions. Understanding the interplay between ER and AT is essential for comprehending the human affective system. In this study, we explored the neural underpinnings of ER, focusing on two distinct strategies: cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. Using electroencephalography (EEG), we examined changes in neural oscillations from 52 adults during an ER task. Specifically, we observed increased frontal theta activity (3-6 Hz) during reappraisal compared to suppression strategies. This frontal theta activity suggests enhanced cognitive control engagement. Conversely, during suppression, we noted a decrease in beta frequency (15-30 Hz) activity from central electrodes, indicative of differing neural processes. Further integrating psychological theories, we explored the relationship between these neural markers and dimensions of human attachment. Employing the Experiences in Close Relationships-12 scale (ECR-12), we identified a negative correlation between attachment anxiety and frontal theta activity. Lower levels of attachment anxiety were associated with increased theta activity, reflecting potentially more effective emotion regulation. Additionally, we found that higher theta activity corresponded with fewer difficulties in emotional control measured by the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Regarding central beta activity, our findings revealed an interesting correlation with Emotional Inattention, a concept tied to Attachment Avoidance. This suggests that central beta activity may serve as a neural marker for specific attachment-related ER processing. These results highlight the distinct neural pathways involved in different ER strategies and their relationship with the AT and neural responses during emotional processing.

Attachment and sleep quality in adults: A multilevel meta-analysis of actor and partner effect.

Within the context of sleep, attachment is hypothesized to play a central role in regulating bedtime affect and arousal. While previous studies have suggested a link between attachment and sleep quality, a meta-analysis specifically examining this association in adults has been lacking. To address this gap, we conducted a series of multilevel meta-analyses of 28 studies on this topic. Our results indicated a correlation between attachment anxiety and an individual's own sleep quality (r = -0.16, p < 0.001), as well as their partner's sleep quality (r = -0.10, p < 0.05). There was also a negative correlation between attachment avoidance and an individual's sleep quality (r = -0.15, p < 0.001) as well as their partner's sleep quality (r = -0.16, p < 0.01). Additionally, the relationships were moderated by several variables, including age, sleep measurement, and gender. Further analysis indicated that attachment anxiety was associated with poorer subjective sleep quality (PSQI) (r = -0.23, p < 0.001), longer sleep latency (r = -0.10, p < 0.05), increased wakefulness after sleep onset (r = -0.09, p < 0.05), and greater daytime sleepiness (r = -0.20, p < 0.01). Attachment avoidance was associated with poorer self-reported sleep quality (PSQI) (r = -0.16, p < 0.001), longer time to fall asleep (r = -0.15, p < 0.05), and increased daytime sleepiness (r = -0.15, p < 0.05). In summary, the findings of the current study supported the association between attachment insecurity and poorer sleep quality in both individuals and their partners. These findings hold important implications for future interventions aimed at improving sleep quality by addressing attachment-related concerns.

Insecure attachment and eating disorder symptoms: Intolerance of uncertainty and emotion regulation as mediators.

OBJECTIVE: Literature on eating disorder (ED) symptoms of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) group is extremely scarce. This study aimed to understand the mechanisms underlying the associations between insecure attachment and ED symptoms and examine whether these mechanisms differed between White and BIPOC groups. METHOD: The study investigated direct and indirect relationship between attachment anxiety/avoidance and ED symptoms via intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and emotion regulation strategies of suppression and reappraisal. Further, we examined whether the proposed mechanisms equally represented White versus BIPOC using Multigroup Structural Equation Model (MG-SEM). A total of 1227 college students (48.50% BIPOC and 51.50% White) completed research questionnaires. RESULTS: Results showed that IU and suppression mediated the relations between insecure attachment and ED symptoms for both White and BIPOC groups. Uniquely, reappraisal mediated the relations between insecure attachment and ED symptoms for the White group, but not for the BIPOC group. DISCUSSION: The implications of the findings for culturally informed practice are discussed, including targeting increasing tolerability of uncertainties and improving emotion regulation to mitigate ED symptoms for those with insecure attachment.

Fluctuations in adult attachment among experienced mothers during re-transitioning to motherhood.

Transition to motherhood encompasses intensive caring for another and thus may activate adult attachment. The current study aimed to examine the fluctuations in adult attachment among the rarely examined population of experienced mothers during their re-transition to motherhood. A sample of 186 Israeli women was followed at the third trimester of pregnancy (T1), 2 months (T2) and 5 months (T3) after giving birth. Participants completed questionnaires regarding their background variables and adult attachment. The findings showed that while anxious attachment remained stable, avoidant attachment decreased from the end of pregnancy to 8 weeks and 5 months after delivery. Despite its relative stability, adult attachment may fluctuate during significant life transitions in a way that is adjusted to the demands of the changing reality. This fluctuation may occur even when individuals have already experienced a life transition.

Association between adult attachment and mental health states among health care workers: the mediating role of social support.

Background: To determine the relationships between attachment style, social support, and mental health states, as well as the mediation mechanism within this relationship, we conducted a survey among healthcare workers during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic quarantine. Methods: The survey assessed their mental health states, adult attachment style, social support, and some other relevant information. Mental health states were represented by the overall state of sleep, physical and emotional assessment. A multiple mediator model was used to explain how social support could mediate the relationship between attachment and mental health states during COVID-19 quarantine. Results: Our findings revealed that 33.3% of the participants experienced emotional issues, 8.5% had sleep problems, and 24.9% reported physical discomfort. The direct effect of adult attachment styles on mental health states during COVID-19 quarantine was significant (c' = -0.3172; p < 0.01). The total indirect effect also showed statistical significance (ab = -0.1857; p < 0.01). Moreover, the total effect of adult attachment styles on mental health states was -0.5029 (c = -0.5029; p < 0.01). Subjective social support and utilization of social support play mediating roles in the relationship between attachment style and mental health states, respectively (ab1 = -0.1287, 95% CI: -0.9120 to -0.3341, ab2 = 0.0570, 95% CI: -0.4635 to -0.1132). Conclusion: These findings highlight social support played a mediation role between attachment style and mental health states. Thus, offering social support during a crisis might be useful for those individuals with an insecure attachment.

Intimate relationships and hypnosis: insecure adult attachment affects emotions and absorption during hypnosis.

Introduction: Hypnosis research indicates that subjects are not equally hypnotizable. Most studies on hypnotizability focused on the relationships with personality or cognitive variables. At the same time, only a few proposed the contribution of the attachment style, defined as the result of the childhood relationship with the caregivers and influencing the adult relations. Methods: In the present investigation, two studies were carried out to test the possible association between adult attachment and hypnotic responsivity. The adult attachment was assessed using the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) questionnaire, while hypnosis was assessed through the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility (HGSHS:A; Study 1) and the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory: Hypnotic Assessment Procedure (PCI-HAP; Study 2) in order to adopt a behavioral and a phenomenological approach, respectively. Results: Analyses showed that attachment factors (anxiety and avoidance) were not associated with the level of hypnotizability, whereas it was associated with variations of consciousness during hypnosis, mainly internal dialogue, absorption and negative emotions. Overall, the insecure attachment styles yielded increased mind wandering and restlessness during hypnosis when compared to the secure style. The reason probably lies in the feeling of anxiety or danger of insecurely attached individuals when involved in intimate or confidential relationships. Conclusion: These findings clarify a still poorly investigated aspect concerning the influence of attachment style on hypnotic experience and further highlight the need to consider inter-individual differences and the phenomenological perspective when assessing hypnosis and hypnotizability.

Associations Between Adult Attachment, Pain Catastrophizing, Psychological Inflexibility and Disability in Adults with Chronic Pain.

We investigated whether attachment insecurity (anxiety and avoidance) moderated the association between satisfaction with social support and pain disability. We also tested whether the relationship between insecure attachment and pain disability was serially mediated by pain catastrophising and psychological inflexibility. A large-scale cross-sectional correlational design was employed. Data were collected using an online survey. Correlation, serial mediation and moderated regression analyses were used. Data from 894 people with self-reported chronic pain were analysed. Based on correlations, age, depression, and pain intensity were included as covariates. No direct effect of satisfaction with social support on pain disability was observed in the moderation. Attachment anxiety was positively associated with pain disability (b = 1.20, t = 2.03, p < .05), but attachment avoidance was not (b = -0.08, t = -0.13, p = .90). The association between attachment anxiety and pain disability was partially mediated by pain catastrophising and psychological inflexibility (c = 1.21, t = 4.37, p < .001; a1db2 = 0.33, t = 5.15, p < .001). The relationship between attachment avoidance and pain disability was fully mediated by pain catastrophising and psychological inflexibility (c = 0.15, t = 0.54, p = .59; a1db2 = 0.13, t = 2.24, p < .05). This study provided initial evidence that pain catastrophising and psychological inflexibility mediate the association between insecure attachment and pain disability. Follow-up research using a longitudinal design is recommended.

Relationships between Attachment Style, Emotional Self-Disclosure, and Quality of Life among Young Breast Cancer Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES: This investigation aims to explore relationships between adult attachment, emotional self-disclosure, and quality of life (QoL). DATA SOURCES: The study sample completed the Chinese versions of the Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Scale, and the Distress Disclosure Index between October 2021 and March 2022. The relationships between adult attachment, emotional self-disclosure, and QoL were investigated using a multiple mediation effects test and structural equation modeling. CONCLUSION: Attachment anxiety and avoidance were risk factors for young Chinese breast cancer survivors' emotional self-disclosure and QoL. Emotional self-disclosure mediates the association between attachment anxiety or avoidance and QoL. Assessing and easing attachment anxiety and avoidance may improve the emotional self-disclosure and QoL of young breast cancer survivors. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: This study confirms that adult attachment plays an important role in young breast cancer patients' adaptation to the disease and that high adult anxiety and avoidance levels can significantly reduce emotional self-disclosure and QoL in young breast cancer survivors. Identifying attachment patterns can help caregivers better understand patients' responses, adaptation, and treatment adherence to cancer, thereby helping caregivers develop targeted and personalized cancer care practice programs or psychotherapy interventions to improve patients' physical and mental health outcomes.

Associations Between Adult Attachment, Maternal Emotion Socialization and Child Behavior.

BACKGROUND: Attachment theories suggest that the adult attachment styles of mothers may influence behavior problems among their children; however, empirical studies examining the direct role of maternal adult attachment styles and the mechanisms through emotion-related parenting are scarce. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the influence of maternal adult attachment styles and emotion-related parenting on child internalizing and externalizing problems. METHODS: The participants were 409 mothers with children aged 4-5 years. A questionnaire survey was conducted to obtain their adult attachment styles to their mothers, maternal emotion socialization, and their children's behavior problems. RESULTS: The results of structural equation modelling (SEM) analyses revealed that maternal adult attachment influenced child behavior problems directly and indirectly through maternal emotion socialization. (1) Maternal attachment anxiety directly affected child externalizing problems, and indirectly affected them via mothers' higher unsupportive emotion socialization (dismissing and dysfunction). Moreover, attachment anxiety influenced child internalizing problems directly, and indirectly via mothers' higher unsupportive emotion socialization (dysfunction). (2) Furthermore, attachment avoidance indirectly impacted child externalizing problems via mothers' lower supportive emotion socialization (coaching). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that maternal adult attachment styles and emotion-related parenting have important implications for the development of child behaviors. Future interventions should target parental factors to mitigate the risk of behavior problems among preschoolers.