Attachment Style Questionnaire Research Articles

Caregiver burden, attachment and cognitive emotion among the family caregivers of severe mental illness patients

BackgroundSerious mental illness (SMI) is a debilitating medical condition that causes stress and challenges for the family caregivers (FCs) of affected patients, increasing their caregiver burden (CB). This situation can activate attachment styles (AS) and trigger negative emotions, further contributing to CB. Given that AS and cognitive-emotional regulation (CER) can affect the CB of FCs of patients with SMI, the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between CB with AS, and CER among the FCs.MethodsThis cross-sectional descriptive-correlational study was carried out in May–November 2022. Participants were 278 FCs of patients with SMI consecutively recruited from Roozbeh leading psychiatric hospital, Tehran, Iran. Data were collected using a patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics questionnaire, an FCs’ demographic characteristics questionnaire, the Attachment Style Questionnaire, the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and the Burden Scale for Family Caregivers, and were analyzed using the SPSS software (v. 16.0).ResultsCB had significant inverse relationship with secure AS (r = − 0.262) and significant positive relationship with fearful AS (r = 0.194) and dismissive AS (r = 0.242) (P < 0.01). Moreover, CB had significant inverse relationship with adaptive CER strategies and significant positive relationship with maladaptive CER strategies (P < 0.001). Regression analysis also showed that CB had significant relationship with secure AS and catastrophizing, rumination, self-blame, and positive refocusing CER strategies (P < 0.05).ConclusionThis study concludes that AS and CER can impact CB. There is a negative relationship between secure AS and CB, as well as between adaptive CER strategies and CB. Conversely, there is a positive relationship between avoidant AS and increased CB, as well as between maladaptive CER strategies and CB. It is recommended to adopt strategies that promote the use of secure AS and adaptive CER among the FCs of patients with SMI.

A cluster analysis of attachment styles in patients with borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder and ADHD

BackgroundInsecure adult attachment has been associated with psychiatric disorders characterized by emotional dysregulation, such as borderline personality disorder (BPD), bipolar disorder (BD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, little is known about the differences in attachment patterns between these diagnostic groups. The aim of this study was to identify clusters of adult attachment style in a cross-diagnostic group of patients with BDP and/or BD and/or ADHD and explore the characteristics of these clusters based on temperament profile, childhood trauma and psychiatric diagnoses.MethodsK-means cluster analysis was used to identify subgroups, based on the Attachment Style Questionnaire Short Form dimensions, in a clinical cohort of 150 young adults (113 women and 37 men, mean age ± SD = 23.3 ± 2.1) diagnosed with BPD, and/or BD, and/or ADHD.ResultsThree distinct clusters were identified: a secure, an insecure/avoidant-anxious and an insecure/avoidant cluster. These three clusters differed in temperament profile and related psychiatric diagnoses.ConclusionsThe three clusters of attachment in individuals with BPD, BD and/or ADHD could support differentiation between the disorders as well provide information usable for planning of treatment.

Uncertain reflective functioning, anxious attachment, and cumulative impact of early relational trauma as predictors of severity in borderline personality disorder

ABSTRACT Background: The mentalization model of borderline personality disorder (BPD) utilizes a developmental psychopathology lens, emphasizing an unstable or reduced capacity to mentalize—stemming from early attachment disruptions and relational trauma—as the core feature of BPD. While the empirical evidence for the proposed intersections between mentalizing, attachment, and trauma and the development and manifestations of borderline personality is still limited, this knowledge is essential for developing effective assessments and interventions. Aim: To examine mentalizing, attachment, and early relational trauma as predictors of the severity of symptoms in BPD. Materials and Methods: The sample included 60 individuals diagnosed with BPD, aged 18–45 years, recruited from inpatient and outpatient services in a tertiary care mental health center. Participants completed measures of mentalizing (Reflective Functioning Questionnaire, Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and Reading the Mind in the Eyes test), attachment (Attachment Style Questionnaire), early relational trauma (Complex Trauma Questionnaire), and symptom severity (Borderline Symptom List). Results: The majority of the participants reported experiences of polyvictimization (93.3%) with the most common traumas being psychological abuse (93.3%), neglect (91.7%), and rejection (90.0%). Regression analyses revealed that uncertain reflective functioning, anxious attachment style, and the cumulative impact of trauma together predicted 53.1% of the variance in BPD symptom severity. Conclusion: Impaired mentalizing, characterized by inflexible understanding of mental states, is a critical target for therapeutic interventions in BPD. The significant role of anxious attachment and the necessity of assessing the perceived impact of traumatic experiences highlight the importance of trauma-informed and mentalization-based interventions for this vulnerable group.

The relationship between intimate partner violence and parenting styles with mediated attachment styles in Iranian women

PurposeThe primary aim of this study was to investigate the role of attachment styles as intermediaries in the relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) and parenting styles among Iranian women.MethodsData for this study was collected between September and December 2020. The participants consisted of 102 women who had been referred to Social Emergency Centers in Isfahan due to their experiences with domestic violence. Participants filled out the Haj-Yahia Violence Questionnaire, Baumrind Parenting Styles Questionnaire (BPSQ), and the Attachment Styles Questionnaire (AAQ). To examine the hypothesized relationships, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used.ResultsEconomic IPV victimization was negatively related to secure attachment (β = − 0.309, p = 0.019) and positively related with authoritative parenting (β = 0.422, p = 0.019) and avoidant attachment style (β = 0.563, p = 0.000). There was a significant, positive relationship between sexual IPV victimization with secure and avoidant attachment styles (β = 0.351, p = 0.011; β = 0.407, p = 0.000). Authoritative parenting style was related to avoidant attachment (β = − 0.524, p = 0.015) and secure attachment (β = 0.371, p = 0.000).ConclusionsIranian IPV victims with secure attachment style were more likely to utilize authoritative parenting and those who have avoidant attachment were less likely to use authoritative parenting. Attachment styles may influence the relationship between IPV and parenting styles in Iranian women who have experienced IPV.

Parenting Styles, Attachment and Emotional Support as Determinants of Adjustment to College Life among Fresh Undergraduates

Abstract: The study examined the relationship of parenting styles, attachment and emotional support with adjustment to college life among fresh undergraduates. The study employed a correlational design as a guide. Three hundred fresh undergraduates of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria -123 males; 177 females, who were selected through Stratified random sampling approach participated in the study. The Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (SACQ; α= .93); Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ; α= .92); Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ; α= .88); and Perceived Emotional Support Scale (PES; α= .89) were the instrument used for data collection. The data generated were statistically analysed with the aid of Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Multiple Regression Model. The statistical results showed that the three predictor variables jointly accounted for a total of 60% of the overall variance in adjustment to college life. Based on the contribution of each of the predictor variables, Authoritarianism and Permissiveness parenting styles, negatively and significantly predicted adjustment to college life. However, attachment styles, Authoritative parenting style and emotional support significantly and directly predicted adjustment to college life. Seeing the investigated variables had significant effect on college adjustment, it was recommended that university authorities and policy makers should design a program that will lessen the impact of negative parenting and improve secure attachment styles and emotional support among fresh undergraduates.

Affective temperament, attachment style and life events related to abandonment in an Italian sample with somatic symptoms

ObjectiveThis study investigates the psychological factors influencing somatic symptoms following the end of a romantic relationship. We hypothesize that affective temperaments may predict attachment styles and depressive rumination components in individuals who have experienced abandonment. Furthermore, we postulate that gender differences exist in the variables under investigation. MethodsThe administered tests included: Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Questionnaire (TEMPS-A), Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ) and Ruminative Response Scale (RRS). The differences between the groups were assessed using Student's t-test for independent samples. In addition, regression analysis, in which the RRS (Brooding, Reflection and Depression) and ASQ (Confidence, Discomfort with Closeness, Need for Approval, Preoccupation with Relationships, and Relationships as Secondary) variables were considered dependent variables and all the TEMPS-A factors were included in the equation. ResultsSubjects at the end of a love affair presented the following psychosomatic symptoms: difficulty breathing, chest pain, feeling faint, sweating, dizziness, fatigue, palpitations, air hunger, difficulty sleeping, and swollen legs and ankles. The Anxious and Hyperthymic temperaments were negative predictors of the ruminative depressive dimension, and of “Confidence” and “Discomfort with Closeness” in the ASQ. The Cyclothymic and Anxious temperaments were predictors of “Discomfort with Closeness”, “Need for Approval”, “Preoccupation with Relationships”, and “Relationships as Secondary”. ConclusionAffective temperaments play a crucial role in determining how an individual deals abandonment in a romantic relationship, significantly influencing attachment styles and the tendency towards depressive rumination.

The Relationship between Traumatic Experiences, the Prevalence of Social Anxiety and Insecure Attachment among University Students

University students face unique challenges and are considered a vulnerable population, making it crucial to understand the impact of trauma on their mental health. This study aimed to investigate the associations between traumatic experiences, the prevalence of social anxiety, and insecure attachment among MSU students. The present study adopted a quantitative research approach using the Trauma Screening Questionnaire (TSQ), the DSM-5 Severity Rating of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD-D), moreover, for the purpose of assessing PTSD, the Vulnerable Attachment Styles Questionnaire (VASQ), Social Anxiety Disorder Severity, and Insecure Attachment, respectively. A total of 406 respondents participated in the research. Through descriptive analysis, data were collected using three different assessments, revealing that 67% of the students were identified as having a high risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while 6.9% experienced severe social anxiety, which was relatively low compared to the total number. Additionally, 87% of the students displayed a high level of insecure attachment. In order to test the research hypotheses, Pearson correlation analysis, linear regression analysis and path analysis were conducted in this study. The study's findings demonstrated that there was a significant correlation between traumatic experiences and insecure attachment and a non-significant correlation between traumatic experiences and social anxiety. Additionally, traumatic experiences had a significant positive effect on insecure attachment but did not significantly affect social anxiety. Lastly, traumatic experiences did not significantly affect insecure attachment through social anxiety or traumatic experiences through social anxiety.

Reflective functioning mediates the relationship between insecure adult attachment and the severity of prolonged grief symptoms.

This study aimed to investigate the mediation role of reflective functioning (i.e., certainty and uncertainty about mental states) in the relationship between insecure attachment (i.e., attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety ) and the severity of prolonged grief symptoms. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 329 bereaved participants (51.7% females, mean age= 46.94 ± 14.62 years). Participants completed the Prolonged Grief Scale (PG-13), the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ), and the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (RFQ). Demographic and bereavement-related information were also collected. Certainty about mental states fully mediated the relationship between both the attachment avoidance and attachement anxiety and severity of prolonged grief symptoms. The findings of this study indicate that reflective functioning impairment, specifically certainty about mental states of self and others, mediate the paths from insecure attachment to prolonged grief symptoms. This suggests that improving reflective functioning may contribute to the treatment bereaved individuals at risk of PGD.

Does attachment anxiety mediate the persistence of anxiety and depressive symptoms from adolescence to early adulthood?

Depression and anxiety often emerge in adolescence and persist into early adulthood. Developing a greater understanding of the factors that influence their persistence may inform psychological interventions. Their association with an insecure attachment style is well established although the mediating role of attachment anxiety in the persistence of depression and anxiety over time has not been examined. This study aimed to examine if anxious attachment mediated depression and anxiety from adolescence to early adulthood. Data from 3,436 participants in a longitudinal birth cohort study were examined. At 14-years and 21-years, participants completed the Achenbach Youth Self Report (YSR) and the Achenbach Young Adult Self-Report (YASR) respectively. At 21-years, participants completed the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ). Attachment anxiety as a mediator for the persistence of anxiety/depressive symptoms from 14- to 21-years was examined. Attachment anxiety accounted for approximately 60% of the persistence of anxiety and depressive symptoms at 14- and 21- years after adjusting for covariates. Results were similar when stratifying by males and females. Attachment anxiety significantly contributes to the persistence of anxiety and depressive symptoms from adolescence into early adulthood for both males and females. Incorporating interventions that address attachment anxiety in adolescents may improve the response to therapy for anxiety and depression.

The Relationship Between Experiencing Childhood Trauma and Psychopathic Personality Traits: The Mediating Role of Insecure Attachment

ABSTRACT While psychopathy has been a topic of interest in the psychological field for a long time, it is still unclear which developmental factors are related to its onset. Theories have suggested that experiencing trauma in childhood may contribute to the development of psychopathic traits. Experiencing trauma may also contribute to the development of an insecure attachment style, which in turn might cause the emergence of psychopathic traits. The current study investigated links between experiencing childhood trauma and the three psychopathy domains of the Extended Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy scale (E-LSRP; Egocentricity, Callousness, and Antisocial), and whether these links were mediated by the four insecure attachment dimensions of the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ; Need for Approval, Preoccupation with Relationships, Relationships as Secondary, and Discomfort with Closeness), in a large sample of non-clinical participants (N = 2023, Mage = 32.7, 70.0% female). The results suggested that Relationships as Secondary, but not Discomfort with Closeness, positively mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and the three domains of psychopathy, while Need for Approval negatively mediated this relationship. Preoccupation with Relationships was a significant mediator in the links between childhood trauma and both the Egocentricity and Antisocial domains, but not the Callousness domain. The current findings suggested that there might be both shared and differential mechanisms linking childhood trauma and psychopathic traits through insecure attachment styles. These findings can guide further investigations in longitudinal research.

Childhood emotional maltreatment and internalizing problems in a non-clinical sample of adolescents: a moderated-mediation model of insecure anxious attachment style and gender.

Childhood emotional maltreatment (abuse and neglect) may contribute to the development of internalizing problems in adolescence. However, the mechanisms explaining this association should be examined further. This study explored the mediating role of insecure anxious attachment style in the relationship between emotional maltreatment and internalizing symptoms in a non-clinical sample of adolescents. Analyses were also conducted to determine whether gender moderated the direct and indirect pathways between emotional maltreatment and internalizing problems. We recruited 449 adolescents aged between 14 and 18 years old [(Mage)=16.46, standard deviation (SD)=1.38]. 60.8% of adolescents were female (Mage=16.51, SD=1.43), whereas 39.2% identified as male (Mage=16.39, SD=1.28). Participants completed a survey including socio-demographic information and three selfreport questionnaires: the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form, the Attachment Style Questionnaire, and the Youth Self- Report for ages 11-18. Results showed that emotional abuse and neglect were related to internalizing problems both directly and indirectly through anxious attachment style. Girls who experienced higher levels of emotional abuse and who had an anxious attachment style reported more internalizing problems than boys, whereas higher levels of emotional neglect were associated with increasing levels of internalizing problems only for boys. This study expanded our knowledge of the role of anxious attachment in the onset of internalizing problems among adolescents with experiences of childhood emotional maltreatment.

Impact of Attachment Style and Temperament Traits on the Quality of Life of Patients with Psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with manifestations that go beyond the visual manifestation, and include psychological aspects. Some mental disorders or personality traits in psoriasis patients have also been highlighted, such as a negative or problematic attitude towards life, impulsive or avoidant behavior, and lower satisfaction with life. The aim of our cross-sectional study was to explore the associations between adult attachment, temperament, and quality of life of patients with psoriasis. A sample of 75 patients with psoriasis was evaluated with the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ) to study adult attachment, the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, and San Diego Auto-questionnaire (TEMPS-A) to study temperament traits, and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) to study the impact of dermatological diseases on patients' lives. Depressive, cyclothymic, and irritable temperaments were found to be significantly positively associated with a need for approval and preoccupation with relationships subscales of the ASQ. The severity of skin disease effect on the patient's life was higher in women than in men. Moreover, a statistically significant effect of the need for approval subscale of the ASQ was found. The positive correlation between the severity of skin disease effect on the patient's life with a need for approval was statistically significant and stronger in women than in men. A better understanding of the impact of mental comorbidities on psoriasis and vice versa places an ever-greater responsibility on dermatologists involved in the management of psoriasis to recognize these problems and collaborate with psychologists and psychiatrists to help these patients.

Attachment in Young Adults and Life Satisfaction at Age 30: A Birth Cohort Study

BackgroundSatisfying close relationships are associated with higher levels of life satisfaction throughout the life course. Despite the fundamental role of attachment style in close relationships, few studies have longitudinally examined the association between attachment style in young adults with later life satisfaction.MethodData from 2,088 participants in a longitudinal birth cohort study were examined. At 21-years, participants completed the Attachment Style Questionnaire which comprises five domains reflective of internal working models of interpersonal relationships and attachment style: confidence (security), discomfort with closeness and relationships as secondary (avoidance), need for approval and preoccupation with relationships (anxiety). At 30-years, participants self-reported their overall life satisfaction. Linear regression was used to longitudinally examine the association between attachment domains at 21-years and life satisfaction at age 30.ResultsAfter adjustments, confidence was positively associated with life satisfaction (β = 0.41, 95% CI 0.25–0.56, p < 0.001), while need for approval was negatively associated with life satisfaction (β = -0.17, 95% CI -0.30 – -0.04, p < 0.001). Low income at 21, caring for a child by age 21, and leaving the parental home at 16-years or under were negatively associated with life satisfaction at 30-years.ConclusionYoung adult attachment style is associated with later life satisfaction, particularly through confidence in self and others. Promoting positive internal working models of interpersonal relationships and fostering greater confidence in self and others in adolescence may be an effective strategy for improving life satisfaction later in life.

A two-generation study of attachment in mothers and their young adult offspring: Latent classes of attachment and associations with anxiety and depression

BackgroundEvidence supports the conceptualization of adult attachment as existing along a continuum of attachment security and insecurity; however, ongoing debates persist regarding the use of categorical versus continuous approaches to studying attachment. Attachment data collected from a large community sample of mothers and their offspring in young adulthood were used to examine i) latent classes of adult attachment, ii) associations between mother and offspring attachment, iii) the relationship between adult attachment and mental health symptoms. MethodsMothers and offspring were each administered the Attachment Style Questionnaire when offspring were aged 21-years. Latent class analyses (LCA) were performed to examine response patterns across ASQ items. Associations between mothers' and offspring attachment, and correlations between attachment domains and depression/anxiety subscales were examined. ResultsLCA identified four latent classes across a continuum of secure and insecure attachment rather than four distinct adult attachment styles. Anxious attachment subscales correlated strongly with depression/anxiety symptoms in both cohorts. Mothers' attachment was significantly but weakly correlated with their young adult offspring attachment. LimitationsAttachment was measured at one time point and as such, a causal maternal-offspring attachment relationship could not be established. ConclusionsFindings support a dimensional view of attachment security and insecurity over a four-category model of adult attachment. Attachment correlated with anxiety and depressive symptoms and highlights the importance of considering adult attachment when addressing mental health. There was limited evidence of a relationship between middle aged mothers and their offspring in young adulthood, suggesting other factors influence attachment in adulthood.

Information Processing Biases and Attachment Styles in Adolescents with Dissociative Disorders

Background: Dissociative disorders invade and interfere with the person’s continuity of normal psychological functioning and exhibit slower or impaired processing of threat-related information and attachment styles play a significant role in their psychopathology. The present study assessed the type of attachment style and information processing biases and their relationship in adolescents with dissociative disorders. Methods: This was a hospital-based study, with a cross-sectional design based on purposive sampling. The study consisted of 50 participants between 11 and 17 years of age. Twenty-five of them were adolescents diagnosed with dissociative disorders and 25 were healthy adolescent controls. The Adolescent Dissociative Experiences Scale was used to assess the severity of dissociative disorders in adolescents. Emotional Stroop, Emotion Face dot-probe task and attachment style questionnaires were administered. Results: Findings suggested an association between the scores in the attachment style dimension of discomfort with closeness and information-processing biases in both the dot-probe and emotional Stroop tasks. There was also an association between the processing bias in the dot-probe task and relationships as a secondary attachment dimension. There was a difference in the two groups of adolescents with dissociative disorders and matched healthy adolescents with respect to the discomfort with closeness attachment style and information-processing bias scores of the dot-probe task. Conclusion: The study provides interesting insights into how information-processing biases correlate to attachment styles in adolescents with dissociative disorders. Results indicate extensive resources for future management.

Love addiction and sexual satisfaction within the attachment perspective: an empirical contribution

ABSTRACT This study aims to test the predictive capacity of the attachment theory in delineating the line between normal and pathological love as well as testing the moderating role of gender in the link between insecure attachment and sexual satisfaction. We administered to a sample of 307 adults the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ), the Love Addiction Inventory (LAI), the Passionate Love Scale (PLS), and the New Sexual Satisfaction Scale (NSSS). We found that some subscales of the ASQ predict LAI scores and that the relationship between passionate love and love addiction was positively moderated by insecure styles of attachment (i.e. discomfort for closeness, preoccupation for relationships, and need for approval). In addition, insecure attachment was negatively related to sexual satisfaction. However, moderation analyses evidenced that the relationship between attachment avoidance and low sexual satisfaction was positive only among males. The study confirmed the utility of the attachment perspective in the understanding of the processes underlying romantic relationships. Results also suggest that the quality of attachment style may be a key factor in differentiating normal from pathological love and that the impact of avoidant attachment style on sexual satisfaction may follow different pathways according to gender.

Perfekcjonizm i style przywiązaniowe a sposoby wchodzenia w relacje interpersonalne

The aim of the study was to answer the question whether different types of entering into interpersonal relationships are explained by different types of perfectionism and by attachment styles. The study included 169 adult people, consisting of 96 women and 73 men. The primary research tool was Wiggins’ Interpersonal Adjective Scales (IAS-R), which is a self-report method and consists of 64 items. Additionally, Plopa’s Attachment Styles Questionnaire was used to study attachment relationships and this tool consists of 24 items, as well as the Big Three Perfectionism Scale (BTSP) by Smith et al. consisting of 45 items, which is currently in the adaptation process to Polish conditions. It was assumed that different types of entering into relationships are explained by different types of perfectionism and attachment styles. The research results have shown that different types of entering into interpersonal relationships are determined by different dimensions of perfectionism. Perfectionism explains 18–30% of the variation in interpersonal relationships. It has also been proven that none of the non-secure attachment styles are associated with less adaptive ways of entering into relationships.

Do relationships with parents determine citizens’ reactions to war trauma?

BackgroundThe article concerns the psychology of trauma: the intensity of the experienced threats and reactions to the trauma in the form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), defenses and post-traumatic growth (PTG) in Ukrainian immigrants in Poland. The issues of trauma psychology were studied in connection with the relationships with parents.Participants and procedureThe methods used mainly concerned the specifics of experiencing strong threats (trauma) and responding to them (PCL-5 questionnaire, Psycho-Social and Psychic Defenses Questionnaire, Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory), determination of closeness to parents (Scale of Closeness to Biological Parents) and secure and non-secure attachment style (Attachment Style Questionnaire). The subjects were 178 people (including 147 women and 31 men), citizens of Ukraine, who arrived in Poland after the outbreak of war on February 24, 2022, and at the time of the study were living in and around Krakow, Wroclaw, Lublin, or Warsaw. The mean age of the subjects was 38 years (SD = 12.57).ResultsThe results of the study indicate that non-secure attachment styles (anxious-avoidant and anxious-ambivalent), along with frustration of the need for competence and intensity of threats, are predictors of PTSD and non-constructive defenses. In contrast, a secure attachment style, along with frustration of the need for competence and intensity of threats, is a predictor of constructive defenses, while a secure attachment style is a predictor of PTG. Statistical analyses show that closeness to the mother is not significantly associated with any of the explained variables.ConclusionsThe accumulation of risks associated with war trauma and the necessity to cope with them are strongly associated with the ongoing war. Attachment styles support or hinder the process of adaptation. The absence of closeness to the mother among the predictors in the models tested represents the most intriguing result, to be confirmed in further research.

Childhood traumatic experiences in people with obesity with and without eating disorders who are seeking bariatric surgery: the role of attachment relationships and family functioning.

The present study examines the impact of traumatic childhood experiences in people with obesity seeking bariatric surgery. It considers the presence of eating disorders (ED) in the population with obesity and tests the role of attachment and family relationships as mediators of the relationship between traumatic events and ED. 110 participants with severe obesity and 98 participants of a healthy weight (control group) filled out The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-SF), the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ) and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES IV). Comparing the two groups on psychological variables, higher scores in the CTQ Emotional neglect and ASQ insecure attachment scales emerged in the control group than the group with obesity. Considering the presence/absence of an ED only in the group with obesity, and comparing these subgroups, higher scores in traumatic experiences emerged in the individuals with obesity and with ED than the individuals with obesity without ED. Moreover, participants with ED scored higher in ASQ insecure attachment and had lower levels of flexibility in family functioning than the group without ED. Finally, Logistic Regression models showed that insecure anxious attachment and dysfunctional familial relationships affected the relationship between traumatic childhood experiences and the presence of ED in the group with obesity. These findings suggest the importance focusing on psychosocial factors linked to obesity, specifically on attachment styles and familial relationships as emotion regulation strategies, since the impact of traumatic childhood events on psychopathology could be ameliorated by an individual's ability to rely on a significant attachment figure. Level II, evidence obtained from well-designed controlled trials without randomization.

The relationship between attachment and anxiety. Comparative study between teenagers with disabilities coming from paternal versus maternal single-parent families

Starting from the hypothesis that the formation of a different type of attachment than the secure one can generate anxiety - a disturbing phenomenon of social adaptation, manifested by excessive fear - the present study aimed to investigate this aspect in the context of adolescents with multiple disabilities. This thematic choice constituted the motivational foundation of the research. The main purpose of the study was to examine, within the selected sample, if there are significant differences in the development of disabled adolescents, depending on their origin from a single-parent family environment, either maternal or paternal. More specifically, the research looked at the relationship between anxiety level and attachment style in adolescents with multiple disabilities in the sample. The study sample was set at 50 subjects, aged between 15 and 18 years. After analyzing the data and establishing a standard, a non-random sampling method with quotas was chosen. The criteria for inclusion in the population were: female and male adolescents, aged between 15 and 18 years, coming from single-parent or nuclear (two-parent) families, the presence of multiple disabilities, with the exception of severe intellectual disability or other conditions that could limit the understanding of the questionnaire items, balancing the number of female and male participants, as well as those from single-parent and two-parent families. The research methodology included the use of interviews and questionnaires. To identify the attachment style, the Attachment Style Questionnaire (C.S.A.), developed by Collins and Read in 1990, was used. To measure the level of anxiety, two anxiety questionnaires were combined, adapting their wording to be accessible to participants with impairments associated with mild or moderate intellectual disability. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to examine the relationship between attachment style and anxiety among adolescents with multiple disabilities, with a particular focus on identifying significant differences between these variables.