Development of The Workplace Attachment Scale (WAtS): evidence of validity and reliability

Alexsandro Luiz De Andrade,Pâmela Fardin Pedruzzi

doi:10.22235/cp.v14i2.2298

Alexsandro Luiz De Andrade, Pâmela Fardin Pedruzzi

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.22235/cp.v14i2.2298

Copy DOI

Abstract

Attachment refers to affective-emotional bonds developed early between child and caretaker, and to its consequences throughout life. This study aimed at constructing a measure to assess adult attachment in workplace relationships. The sample of the study consisted of 450 adult participants (62.2% female; M= 24 years old, SD= 6.69%) included in the labor market. The results of an exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis indicated a three-dimensional structure that evaluated aspects of security, anxiety and avoidance of attachment in workplace situations, explaining 55% of the total variance. In addition, dimensions in both analyses showed omega coefficients high than .80. The measure presented expected correlations with close attachment, career success, satisfaction with life and self-efficacy dimensions. In conclusion, this study offers a validated measure: The Workplace Attachment Scale (WAtS), in Brazilian Portuguese that enables the investigation of attachment relationships in the workplace.

Highlights

Resumen: El apego se refiere a los vínculos afectivos-emocionales desarrollados tempranamente entre el niño y el cuidador, junto a sus consecuencias a lo largo de la vida
There is evidence that adult attachment style correlates with a variety of outcomes
Using the software Factor, the New Workplace Attachment Scale set of items were submitted to Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) based on a parallel analysis with a polychoric correlation matrix to identify the number of dimensions

Summary

Introduction

Resumen: El apego se refiere a los vínculos afectivos-emocionales desarrollados tempranamente entre el niño y el cuidador, junto a sus consecuencias a lo largo de la vida. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo construir una medida para evaluar el apego adulto en las relaciones laborales. Este estudio ofrece una nueva medida: The Workplace Attachment Scale (WAtS), en portugués brasileño, que permite la investigación de las relaciones de apego en el lugar de trabajo. Este estudo teve como objetivo construir uma medida para avaliar o apego de adultos nas relações de trabalho. Este estudo oferece uma medida validada, a The Workplace Attachment Scale (WAtS), em português brasileiro, que possibilita a investigação das relações de apego no ambiente de trabalho. Anxious attachment pattern is characterized by fear in the exploration of the environment (Leiter, Day & Price, 2015) In adults, this pattern characterizes individuals who are more dependent on others, insecure and has high level of rejection. Adult insecure attachment is related to the presence of lower satisfaction in romantic relationships (Gleeson & Fitzgerald, 2014), depression (Conradi, Kamphuis & de Jonge, 2017), low parenting self-efficacy (Kohlhoff & Barnett, 2013), risk of parental maltreatment

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion