Attachment as a Moderating Factor Between Social Support, Physical Health, and Psychological Symptoms

Kimberly A Rapoza,Lorielle A Jimenez-Lazar,Alberto Luis Ortiz-Garcia,Thomas W Robertson,Denise T Wilson,Dana J Manzella,Kemesha Vassell

doi:10.1177/2158244016682818

Kimberly A Rapoza, Lorielle A Jimenez-Lazar + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244016682818

Copy DOI

Abstract

This study investigated the extent to which perceived social support functioned as a protective factors, and dimensions of insecure attachment (i.e., avoidant and anxious) functioned as risks factors for physical and psychological health. We explored whether insecure attachment was a mechanism that modified the relationship (i.e., protect against or increases risk) between social support and adult health. Participants were 155 non-traditional adult college students from demographically diverse backgrounds. Students were approached in common areas on campus or in classrooms during break and were asked to complete the questionnaire. Bartholomew and Horowitz’s Attachment Questionnaire assessed avoidant and anxious attachment dimensions, the Brief Social Support Questionnaire assessed perceived social support, and the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale measured physical and psychological symptoms. Model results indicated that the anxious dimension of insecure attachment was more directly and positively associated with poorer general physical health and psychological symptoms, whereas greater perceived social support was linked with better reported health. However, an interesting pattern emerged with avoidant attachment through a moderated relationship with social support. The absence of a satisfying supportive network was significantly related to poorer physical and psychological health outcomes for those low in avoidant attachment, but not for those high in avoidant attachment. Results from this work suggest that insecure attachment plays a detrimental role in adult health. Perceived social support does not necessarily function as a blanket protective factor for health, as it seemed to offer less benefit to those high in attachment avoidance.

Highlights

The bonds that form between the child and the primary caretaker and the influence those early attachments have on relationships throughout the life span are a focal point of attachment theory. Bowlby (1969) conceptualized attachment as a system of cognition, affect, and behavior utilized by a child to keep the primary caregiver in close proximity. Bowlby (1988) proposed that internal working models of the self and others, built and formed based on experiences during the early years, shape and guide interactions throughout the life span
This study attempts a reorganizing of our understanding of the impact of social support on health, as social dynamics can be guided in part by attachment, and the worldview generated from early attachment experiences may have important theoretical implications for both exacerbating and improving health through the perceived value of social
The anxious and avoidant attachment dimensions were both significantly negatively correlated with perceived social support

Summary

Introduction

The bonds that form between the child and the primary caretaker and the influence those early attachments have on relationships throughout the life span are a focal point of attachment theory. Bowlby (1969) conceptualized attachment as a system of cognition, affect, and behavior utilized by a child to keep the primary caregiver in close proximity. Bowlby (1988) proposed that internal working models of the self and others, built and formed based on experiences during the early years, shape and guide interactions throughout the life span. This study will explore the important contributions attachment theory can make in better understanding the factors that affect health and wellness. There is a dearth of studies investigating the role of perceived social support and insecure attachment on health in general, and on overall health in particular (i.e., not specific diseases such as cancer, arthritis, chronic pain, etc.). A unique contribution of this study will be an exploratory moderated model examining the interaction between both insecure attachment styles and social support on general physical and psychological well-being. The literature generally concurs that those with low-quality social connections and relationships were at increased risk of earlier mortality and were worse off in terms of physical and psychological health (House, Landis, & Umberson, 1988)

Results

Discussion

Conclusion