Effects of adult attachment and life orientation on anxiety level of surgery patients

Abstract

Objective To explore the effect of adult attachment and life orientation on anxiety level of surgery patients. Methods 223 patients who received surgery were recruited to complete 4 questionnaires, including the two widely used measurements of adult attachment: Relationship Questionnaire (RQ) and Experience of Close Relationship (ECR) to measure their attachment orientation; Life orientation scale (LOT-R) and Self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), to assess patients’ life orientation and anxiety level. Results (1) The distributions of adult attachment measured by RQ were: 68 (38.9%) secure, 55 (31.4%) dismissing, 31 (17.7%) preoccupied, and 21 (12%) fearful. Moreover, there was no gender differences on adult attachment styles (P>0.05). (2) Secure attachment patients got lower score both on attachment avoidance (3.17±0.59) and attachment anxiety (3.37±0.86)than insecure patients; On pessimism, secure (10.37±3.45)got lower score than dismissing patients(11.85±3.89)and preoccupied (11.90±4.12), with fearful patients got highest score (12.39±3.88). Moreover, secure (46.75±9.36), and dismissing patients(46.62±120.07)got lower score than preoccupied(52.84±12.92)and Fearful (54.62±12.27) on self-rating anxiety level(all P<0.01 or P<0.05). (3) The self-rating anxiety level of surgery patients can be predicted by age, attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, and pessimism score positively (β=0.232, 0.277, 0.126, 0.248 respectively), and by optimism score (β=-0.125)negatively. Conclusion The self-rating anxiety level of surgery patients was related to their adult attachment, and patients’ optimism and pessimism score. Key words: Adult Attachment; Optimism; Pessimism; Anxiety Level