Evaluation of a short version of the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised questionnaire (ECR-RD8): results from a representative German sample

Elmar Brähler,Katja Brenk-Franz,Bernhard Strauß,Ulrike Dinger,Johannes Zimmermann,Johannes C. Ehrenthal,Henning Schauenburg

doi:10.1186/s40359-021-00637-z

Abstract

BackgroundAttachment insecurity is a prominent risk factor for the development and course of psychiatric and psychosomatic disorders. The Experiences in Close Relationships - Revised (ECR-R) questionnaire is a widely used self-report to assess attachment related anxiety and avoidance. However, its length has the potential to restrict its use in large, multi-instrument studies. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a brief version of the ECR-R, and provide norm values for the German population.MethodsA screening version of the original ECR-R was developed through principal components analysis of datasets from several previous studies. In a representative sample of 2428 randomly selected individuals from the German population, we compared fit indices of different models by means of confirmatory factor analyses (CFA). We investigated the convergent validity of the screening version in an independent convenience sample of 557 participants. Correlations between the short and the full scale were investigated in a re-analysis of the original German ECR-R evaluation sample.ResultsCFA indicated a satisfactory model fit for an eight-item version (ECR-RD8). The ECR-RD8 demonstrated adequate reliability. The subscales correlated as expected with another self-report measure of attachment in an independent sample. Individuals with higher levels of attachment anxiety, but especially higher levels of attachment avoidance were significantly more likely to not be in a relationship, across all age groups. Correlations between the short and the full scale were high.ConclusionsThe ECR-RD8 appears to be a reliable, valid, and economic questionnaire for assessing attachment insecurity. In addition, the reported population-based norm values will help to contextualize future research findings.

Highlights

Attachment insecurity is a prominent risk factor for the development and course of psychiatric and psychosomatic disorders
Study 1 Model fit of a two-dimensional confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) based on the 12 items of the ECR-RD12 was poor, χ2(53) = 8956.1, p < 0.001, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.841, Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) = 0.802, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.263, SRMR = 0.165
The reduced 8-item version of the ECR-RD showed good model fit according to the majority of fit indices, χ2(19) = 438.1, p < 0.001, CFI = 0.989, TLI = 0.983, RMSEA = 0.095, SRMR = 0.044

Summary

Introduction

Attachment insecurity is a prominent risk factor for the development and course of psychiatric and psychosomatic disorders. Attachment insecurity is a risk-factor for the Ehrenthal et al BMC Psychol (2021) 9:140 development of mental disorders [3], and contributes to higher levels of psychopathology in cross-sectional analyses [1]. It is associated with several somatic and psychosomatic disease conditions [4, 5], probably via interrelated behavioral and biopsychological pathways [6], and interacts with other developmental variables in predicting psychophysiological stress-reaction [7]. The general importance of attachment in psychiatric assessment is acknowledged in the construct ‘affiliation and attachment’ of the NIMH Research Domain Criteria approach [14]

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