Experiences In Close Relationships Inventory Research Articles

Examination of the Mediating Role of Attachment Dimensions in the Link between Suicide Probability and Cognitive Distortions about Relationships in University Students

Suicide, which is defined as an individual's intentionally attempting to end his or her life, is considered an important public health problem. In this study, it was aimed to examine the relationship between cognitive distortions and suicide probability in university students who are in age groups at risk for suicide, and to examine the mediating roles of the attachment dimensions of anxiety and avoidance, in this relationship. The study group consisted of 441 university students. In the study, Suicide Probability Scale, Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory, Cognitive Distortions in Relationships Scale and a personal information form were used as data collection tools. In accordance with the purpose of the study, a correlation analysis between variables and regression analyses were applied to examine the mediating roles of avoidance and anxiety in the relationship between cognitive distortions and suicide probability. The findings showed that there was a moderate positive correlational relationship between suicide probability scores and avoidance scores and there was a moderate positive correlational relationship between suicide probability scores and cognitive distortion scores. It was shown that there were low and moderate positive correlations between cognitive distortion scores, and avoidance and anxiety scores. The results of the mediation analyses showed that anxiety and avoidance had a partial mediating role in the relationship between cognitive distortion and suicide probability. The results were discussed in light of the literature.

Relationships between Attachment Style, Emotional Self-Disclosure, and Quality of Life among Young Breast Cancer Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Study

This investigation aims to explore relationships between adult attachment, emotional self-disclosure, and quality of life (QoL). The study sample completed the Chinese versions of the Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Scale, and the Distress Disclosure Index between October 2021 and March 2022. The relationships between adult attachment, emotional self-disclosure, and QoL were investigated using a multiple mediation effects test and structural equation modeling. Attachment anxiety and avoidance were risk factors for young Chinese breast cancer survivors' emotional self-disclosure and QoL. Emotional self-disclosure mediates the association between attachment anxiety or avoidance and QoL. Assessing and easing attachment anxiety and avoidance may improve the emotional self-disclosure and QoL of young breast cancer survivors. This study confirms that adult attachment plays an important role in young breast cancer patients' adaptation to the disease and that high adult anxiety and avoidance levels can significantly reduce emotional self-disclosure and QoL in young breast cancer survivors. Identifying attachment patterns can help caregivers better understand patients' responses, adaptation, and treatment adherence to cancer, thereby helping caregivers develop targeted and personalized cancer care practice programs or psychotherapy interventions to improve patients' physical and mental health outcomes.

The Relationship between Mental Health and Sleeping Quality in COVID-19: The Moderating Effect of the Attachment Style

During the epidemic, the mental health and sleeping quality of college students were affected to varying degrees, which may influence the quality of life and well-being. This cross-sectional aimed to determine the frequency of psychologically negative states and poor sleeping quality among undergraduate students during the Covid-19 pandemic and explore the correlation between mental health and sleeping quality and the moderating effect of the attachment style. Relevant information was collected with an online questionnaire, which was distributed among 72 undergraduate students at prestigious universities in Shanghai and Nanjing. The mental health status of the subjects was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale - 21 (DASS-21), the sleep quality of the students using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire and the attachment style using the Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory (ECR). The study revealed that 70% of the subjects were suffering stress of different levels, two-thirds of them were undergoing varying degrees of depression, and nearly 85% were bearing anxiety after the outbreak of COVID-19. The prevalence of poor sleeping quality among college students was 36.2%. The study concluded that stress, anxiety and depression index were all in direct proportion to the level of sleeping problems. The attachment style may play a more or less role in moderating the direct proportion. The findings could help choose appropriate interventions to try to solve the mental and sleep problems for people with different attachment styles.

The Influences of Adult Attachment and Gender onMental Health Among Medical Undergraduates

Objective:To explore the present status and charactistics of adult attachmentand mental health among medical undergraduates, and analyze the influences of gender and adult attachment categery on mental health among medical undergraduates. Methods: Stratified random sampling was used to select 855 medical undergraduates from Guangdong Province, China. They were investigated with Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory (ECR) and Symptom Check-List90 (SCL-90). Results: (1) The scores in the dimensions of attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance of ECR were (3.89±0.74) and (3.77±0.55), respectively. There are 30.53% of students in this group with a secure attachment style, 12.63% with a preoccupied attachment style, 15.09% with a dimissingattachment style, and 41.75% with a fearful attachment style. (2) The total score of SCL-90 was (1.87±0.47), andthe scores of obsessive-compulsive and interpersonal sensitivity were higher than 2.0, the lower score limit of postive symptom. (3) The positive rates of mental problems of students with different genders and attachment styles were significantly different (<i>χ</i>²=107.598-303.919, all <I>P</I><.001). Conclusion: The adult attachment and mental health of medical undergraduates need to be improved. Gender and adult attachment may be important influencing factors of mental health.

The relationship of attachment styles, perceived social support, and anxiety and depressive symptoms with migraine-related disability

The objectives of the present study was to examine the attachment styles, perceived social support, and levels of depression and anxiety symptoms in patients with migraine and to determine the relationships of these variables with migraine disability. In total, 80 patients with episodic migraine (EM), 35 patients with chronic migraine (CM), and 50 healthy controls were included. All participants completed the Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory (ECRI), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). In addition, patients with migraine completed the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) Questionnaire. A statistically significant difference was found between the EM and CM groups in terms of MIDAS scores. The Avoidance subscale mean scores in the EM and CM group were statistically significantly higher than the mean scores of the healthy control group. The MSPSS Total, Family and Friends subscale mean scores of the EM group and healthy control group were significantly higher than the mean scores of the CM group. MANOVA showed statistically significant differences between groups in terms of ECRI, MSPSS, and the HADS scores. Chronic migraine patients who have high levels of avoidant attachment, anxious attachment, and depression tend to experience greater migraine-related disability. In contrast, those with higher levels of perceived social support from friends and a larger social support network tend to experience less migraine-related disability. Family support is the key support system for predicting migraine-related disability. Prioritizing and improving perceived social support can minimize negative effects and prevent chronicity, making it a crucial aspect of migraine treatment.

The Influence of Adult Attachment on Mental Health among Medical Undergraduates

Objective To explore the present status of adult attachment and mental health, and analyze the impact of adult attachment on mental health among medical undergraduates. Methods Stratified random sampling was used to select 855 medical undergraduates from Guangdong Province, China. They were investigated with Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory (ECR) and Symptom Check-List 90 (SCL-90). Results ⑴ The scores in the both dimensions of ECR, as well as the total score of SCL-90 were (3.89±0.74), (3.77±0.55) and (1.87±0.47), respectively. The scores of obsessive-compulsive and interpersonal sensitivity were above 2.0, the lower score limit of postive symptom. (2) Multiple linear stepwise regression showed that both attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance positively predicted the total score of SCL-90 (β=.302, .280, all P&lt;.001). Conclusion The adult attachment and mental health of medical undergraduates need to be improved. Adult attachment may be an important influencing factor of mental health.

A New Attachment Assessment Tool: Attachment-Based Mental Representation Scale (ABMRS).

The goal of this study is to develop a new assessment tool to measure attachment. The study consisted of six stages. Initially, in order to develo an itm pool, the current attachment literature and measuring tools were examined. The clarity of the items and the face validity were evaluated with a group of 20 'judges'. The draft scale was given to 307 individuals, using the Brief Symptom Inventory as a criterion measure. Selection of the items was completed with factor analyses, and the resulting 33 item scale was named, "Attachment-Based Mental Representation Scale" (ABMRS). Later, with a sample of 407 individuals, the reliability and validity analyses of this 33item scale were conducted, using different criteria measures namely, Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory, The Parental Bonding Instrument, UCLA Loneliness Scale, Stress Audit Scale. Then, the test-retest reliability was investigated with a new sample of 60 individuals. With the addition of 7 more items, the Scale was administred to 283 people to investigate the psychometric properties. Lastly, the new 40-item Scale, with the items written in a mixed order, was applied to a different sample of 264 participants, and exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted. The scale has a six-dimensional structure, and it has been observed that the reliability coefficients of the dimensions vary between 0.72 and 0.86. These sub-dimensions can be grouped together and evaluated as "Secure Attachment" and "Insecure Attachment". It can be argued that the ABMRS validly and reliably measures the attachment phenomenon with various dimensions for Turkish culture.

The Impact of Attachment on Depression in Married Seniors: Chain Mediating Effects of Self-Esteem and Rumination.

In this study, we discuss the effects of attachment on depression and the mediating roles of self-esteem and rumination in Chinese seniors. We assessed 431 using the Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Ruminative Responses Scale, and the Short Form of Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Both attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance significantly predicted depression in seniors. Attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance positively predicted rumination but negatively predicted self-esteem. Structural equation models showed that rumination and self-esteem fully mediated the effects of attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance on depression. The attachment of seniors is related to depression, and self-esteem and rumination have chain mediating effects between attachment and depression.

Predictive Role of Attachment Styles and Personality Traits in Marital Adjustment

In this study, it was aimed to examine the predictive role of attachment styles and personality traits on marital adjustment. 247 married individuals (127 women, 120 men) participated in the study. The Dyadic Adjustment Scale, Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory, Five Factor Personality Scale and Personal Information Form prepared by the researcher were used as data collection tools. The obtai-ned data were analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient, one-way MANOVA and multiple regression analysis methods. Neuroticism and insecure forms of attachment (anxious and avoidant) were found to be significant predictors of marital adjustment. It was determined that women had a higher level of anxious attachment style. In addition, there was a negative relationship between anxious attachment style and neuroticism and marital adjustment, while a positive significant relationship was found between avoidant attachment style and marital adjustment. The results obtained contribute to a better understanding of the relationships between marital adjustment, attachment and personality traits. Once again, the effect of attachment style on emotional relationship has been revealed. Those working in the field of family and marriage counseling may benefit from these results. While working with couples or married clients, considering their attachment patterns and personality traits can contribute significantly to the therapeutic process. In studies with parents, awareness studies can be conducted on how to develop secure attachment in children.

The Relationship between the Presence of Depression and Attachment Styles of Mothers with Autistic Children

The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between the presence of depression and various socio-demographic characteristics and attachment styles of mothers with autistic children. The research was descriptive and correlational in design. One hundred fifty-six mothers were included in the study. A sociodemographic characteristics information form, the Experiences in Close Relationship Inventory (ECRI), and the Beck Depression Inventory were used as the data collection tools. The mean depression score of the participating mothers was 10.86 ± 7.92. The study findings showed that the majority of mothers developed preoccupied-style attachment to their children.

Adult Disorganized Attachment Scale (ADA): Turkish adaptation, validity, and reliability study

Objective: The aim of the current study was to adapt the Adult Disorganized Attachment Scale (ADA) into Turkish and to examine its psychometric properties. Method: The study was conducted with 2 separate sample groups of married individuals. The first sample group, which was used to perform exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), consisted of 285 individuals (66% female, 33.7% male) aged 20-45 years (32.41±5.40 years). The second sample group, for which only CFA was performed, comprised 585 individuals (50.4% female, 49.2% male) between the ages of 21-50 years (34.33±6.23 years). The Paulson Daily Living Inventory (PDLI) and the Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory (ECR-I) were used as convergent validity criteria, and the Borderline Personality Inventory (BPI) was used as a discriminant validity criterion. Results: As a result of the EFA, a single-factor structure that evaluates disorganized attachment in adult romantic relationships was obtained. The model fit indices obtained as a result of CFA were within the acceptable limits in both sample groups. The other validity and reliability values determined were also found to be sufficient. Conclusion: This Turkish version of the ADA can be considered a valid and reliable scale to be used in studies related to attachment in adult romantic relationships.

Σχέσεις μεταξύ του ζευγαριού και οι αντιλήψεις τους για το δεσμό με τη μητέρα τους

The current study examined the association between attachment style and adjustment in romantic relationships as well as the association between perceptions of adult attachment and adjustment in romantic relationships. 65 cohabitating couples aged from 21 to 32 years were recruited for the study. Couples completed the following self-report questionnaires: 1) Perceptions of Adult Attachment Questionnaire, PAAQ, Lichtenstein &amp; Cassidy, 1991, 2) Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory, ECR, Brennan, Clark &amp; Shaver, 1998 and 3) Dyadic Adjustment Scale, DAS, Spanier, 1976. Results showed that secure couples (both partners described themselves as securely attached) as well as mixed couples (one partner chose the secure description and the other defined himself or herself as insecure) reported higher relationship quality compared to both insecure couples (both partners described themselves as insecurely attached). Analyses aimed to test the links between early attachment experiences and marital relationship quality illustrated that both partners’ rejection from their mother in early childhood had a detrimental effect on women’s marital adjustment.

The Relationship of Theory of Mind and Attachment Characteristics with Disease Severity in Social Anxiety Disorder.

The aim of our study is to compare the attachment characteristics and the theory of mind abilities measured by the Eyes Test between social anxiety disorder (SAD) patients and healthy controls. Another aim of our study is to investigate the relationship between attachment characteristics, theory of mind abilities and disease severity in patients with SAD. 47 consecutive patients with SAD and 50 healthy controls were recruited for the study. Sociodemographic data form, SCID-I Structured Clinical Interview form Patient Version, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Reading Mind in the Eyes Test (Eye Test), Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), Experiences in Close Relationship Inventory (ECR) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were administered to all participants. The BDI, LSAS anxiety and avoidence, ECR and anxiety and avoidance, STAI state and trait anxiety scores of the SAD group were higher than the controls, but the Eyes Test scores were lower. It was observed that the Eyes Test score difference between the two groups survived when controlled for BDI and STAI state and trait anxiety scores. In the SAD group, both ECR anxiety and avoidance scores were associated with LSAS anxiety and avoidance scores. Eyes Test scores were associated with LSAS anxiety and avoidance scores. In regression analysis, it was observed that the Eyes Test, ECR anxiety and avoidance scores effected both the LSAS anxiety and the LSAS avoidance scores. In SAD patients, the theory of mind functions was impaired when compared to healthy controls, and this difference has been found to be independent of anxiety or depression levels. Attachment anxiety and avoidance dimensions have negative effects on SAD disease severity. The fact that the theory of mind ability is inversely related with SAD severity suggests that interventions to improve social cognition might have a potential to decrease the severity of disease in SAD.

Stavovi prema religioznosti i relacije sa afektivnom vezanošću u poznoj adolescenciji

The purpose of this study, based on the findings that there is a link between the attachment system and the different aspects of religiosity, is to examine the degree of expression of four religious attitudes - literal belief, post-critical belief, relativism and external critique, as well as their potential relationships with different qualities of parental attachment in late adolescence. The sample is represented by 301 respondents - 176 girls and 125 boys, average age 19.2 years, who completed the Post-Critical Belief Scale and the modified version of the Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory. The results indicate that adolescents have the highest tendency towards post-critical belief and the least tendency towards external criticism, where girls are on average more likely to have a literal and post-critical belief, while boys are more inclined to relativism and external critique. Furthermore, the results showed that among adolescents expressing different types of attachment there are significant differences in leaning towards literal and post-critical belief, external critique, but not relativism, i.e. it was found that higher anxiety and lower avoidance predict a greater tendency towards literal and post-critical belief, whereas a higher avoidance predict a stronger tendency towards external critique, but with the low percentage of explained variance. The results were interpreted based on the context of the findings of previous researches and were perceived in the light of current models which explain the relationship between the quality of attachment and religion.

Brazilian women’s transition to new relationships after ending a violent one: a case study

Abstract This study investigated characteristics of the transition to new relationships after the end of a violent one through case studies. Two young white Brazilian women who had experienced violent first relationships underwent a narrative interview and filled out the Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory. One of them had moved to a healthy relationship and the second one to another violent relationship. Awareness of violence and the adoption of strategies that enlarged models, world views, social circles, support and self care had not been enough to avoid the entrance in a new violent relationship. The development of the ability to access and validate one’s own feelings and wills, resulting in greater assertiveness, favored the transition to a healthy relationship. The approach to secure attachment style accompanied such changes. We discuss the implications to professional practice and preventive initiatives, as well as directions for future research.

Adult attachment in eating disorders mediates the association between perceived invalidating childhood environments and eating psychopathology

This study aimed to evaluate the associations between perceived invalidating childhood environments, attachment in intimate relationships and eating psychopathology, to explore how these variables interact with each other, and to explore potential mediators to this pattern of association in a clinical eating disorder (ED) sample. One hundred thirty-seven ED outpatients were evaluated with the Invalidating Childhood Environments Scale (ICES), the Eating Disorder-15 (ED-15) and the Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory (ECR). Paternal invalidation was associated to the ED-15 total score through avoidance of proximity and anxiety over abandonment, while maternal invalidation was only associated to the ED-15 total score through avoidance of proximity. Our results highlight the potential role of the perception of an invalidating family environment in the development of eating pathology and of difficulties in intimate relationships. These results endorse the relevance of address parental invalidation and promote adequate emotion regulation strategies and interpersonal competencies in the context of intimate relationships.

Attachment anxiety, loneliness, rumination and mobile phone dependence: A cross-sectional analysis of a moderated mediation model

Mobile phone dependence has become a worldwide problem due to its high occurrence rate, fast growth rate, and serious undesirable consequences. Previous studies have found that attachment anxiety is a key antecedent of mobile phone dependence. However, little is known about the underlying psychological mechanisms. The present study tested the mediating role of loneliness and the moderating role of rumination in the link between attachment anxiety and mobile phone dependence. A sample of 908 Chinese university students aged 17 to 27 years old was recruited from four universities in Central China. They completed the Chinese version of Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory, Mobile Phone Addiction Index, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Ruminative Response Scale. After controlling for gender and age, loneliness mediated the association between attachment anxiety and mobile phone dependence. Both the direct association between attachment anxiety and mobile phone dependence and the indirect association through loneliness were moderated by rumination. These two associations were stronger for individuals with high rumination than for those with low rumination. Limitations and implications are discussed.

Attachment insecurity and restrictive engulfment in college student relationships: the mediating role of relationship satisfaction

Purpose Studies on restrictive engulfment (RE) – a subtype of psychological aggression in intimate relationships – have focused either on insecure attachment or relationship satisfaction, not both. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate relationship satisfaction as a potential mediator of the associations between anxious and avoidant attachment and RE perpetration among college students. Design/methodology/approach A sample of 322 college students (178 women, 137 men, and seven other gender-identified) completed the experiences in close relationship inventory, relationship assessment scale, and RE subscale of the multidimensional measure of emotional abuse. Findings Among the sample, 89.3 and 90.5 percent of the college women and men, respectively, reported to have used isolating, restricting, monitoring, and controlling behaviors. The results of structural equation modeling revealed that all direct paths except for that from avoidant attachment to RE were significant. Moreover, significant indirect paths were identified from anxious and avoidant attachment to RE via relationship satisfaction. Research limitations/implications The results of this study should be interpreted with consideration of the study’s limitations. First, the data were drawn from a convenience sample of Turkish college students. Second, the design of the study is correlational; therefore, we cannot assume causality. Finally, this study utilized self-report and retrospective data. Practical implications Though the findings are preliminary, they may inform college counselors and other mental health practitioners about the nature of RE within college students’ dating relationships. College students who are unhappy with their dating relationships but still in those relationships (i.e. they choose not to leave) should be assessed for whether they are the perpetrators and/or recipients of psychological aggression, especially in light of the high rates of this form of aggression in the current and previous studies. Furthermore, assessing psychological dating aggression perpetrators for insecure attachment styles may help mental health professionals who work with college students, envisage the sessions toward areas in the need of improvement, such as their views of themselves and others. Self-esteem, feelings of insecurity and inadequacy in relationships, and dependency can be worked with these clients. Social implications The results of this study also have implications for the prevention of psychological aggression before it occurs. The need for prevention programs is evident in the high rates of psychologically controlling behaviors among college students. It may be useful to implement campus wide programs to raise awareness regarding psychological aggression, such as through events, seminars, posters, flyers, and talks with student groups. Originality/value Despite the limitations of this study, its findings offer insight into the factors that influence the perpetration of psychological aggression within dating relationships among college students. Adult attachment theory offers a useful lens for understanding the possible driving forces behind college students’ controlling behaviors toward their dating partners. In particular, college students who demonstrate an insecure attachment style – and especially an anxious attachment style – combined with low levels of relationship satisfaction appear to be at a high risk for perpetrating RE behaviors.

SPARC 2017 MBC Challenge: Validation of CALM Therapy Model in MBC Patients in Portugal: An Intervention to Address Patients' Psychosocial Needs

Background: Psychological distress is common in patients with metastatic cancer and the progression of disease brings multiple predictable challenges. However, there are very few cost-effective evidence-based interventions that address these specific needs of this population. CALM (Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully) is a brief intervention model recently developed in Canada for this purpose. CALM includes 3-6 individual sessions, each approximately 45 minutes in length, delivered over 3 months, that cover 4 critical domains for this population: 1) symptom management and communication with health care providers; 2) changes in self and relations with close others; 3) spiritual well-being, or sense of meaning and purpose; 4) preparing for the future, sustaining hope and facing mortality. CALM has been successfully tested in Canada and other countries, showing significant reductions in depressive symptoms and death anxiety in therapy participants and a significant improvement in spiritual well-being over time. In Portugal there are no available short cost-effective psychotherapeutic interventions to address psychosocial needs of advanced cancer patients. Aims: (i) Translate and adapt the original CALM therapy manual for Portuguese patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) for its application and dissemination in Portugal and in other Portuguese speaking countries; (ii) Test the feasibility of the CALM therapy intervention in Portuguese patients with MBC; (iii) Test the effectiveness of CALM in reducing depression and other psychological distress in this population; (iv) Increase the availability of psychosocial resources to address the specific psychosocial needs of MBC patients and to reduce the current gap of psychosocial care for this population in Portugal and Portuguese speaking countries. Methods: Conduct a Phase II single-arm, intervention-only study, with assessments at baseline, 3 months and 6 months; Site Champalimaud Clinical Centre, Lisbon, PT; Primary outcome: depressive symptoms assessed by PHQ-9; Secondary outcome measures include: FACIT-Sp, measure of spiritual well-being in palliative care; Death and Dying Distress Scale (DADDS); Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory (ECR-M16); and the Clinical Evaluation Questionnaire (CEQ). We will also collect additional information including demographics and relevant medical data. We plan to recruit 35 patients over an 18-month period at the Breast Unit. Eligible participants will receive the CALM individual semistructured psychotherapy. The Canadian CALM team is closely monitoring and supporting the study. Results: In progress.

Adult attachment and perceived parental style may shape leadership behaviors

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the role of both attachment and parental styles in shaping leadership behavioral patterns. Research predictions were that childhood perceived parental experiences will be associated with attachment style, and that both perceived parental and attachment styles will fulfill a significant role in shaping the individual’s leadership orientation in adulthood.Design/methodology/approachThe authors tested the research hypotheses with a field survey data from 90 supervisors belonging to diverse industrial and service organizations. During their attendance in a leadership seminar, the managers’ attachment style was assessed using the Experiences in Close Relationship Inventory. They were also asked to report on their childhood experiences using the Parenting Style Index, and to answer questions regarding their leadership behavior, using a short version of the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire.FindingsResults indicated associations between parental style, attachment style, and leadership. Specifically, parental autonomy granting was negatively associated with both attachment anxiety and avoidance. Both transformational and transactional leadership styles were positively associated with parental autonomy, but only transformational leadership was also positively associated with parental involvement. In addition, transactional leadership was positively associated with attachment avoidance in close relationships.Research limitations/implicationsTesting the contributions of perceived parental style in childhood and attachment style in adulthood to the manager’s manifested leadership style helps to advance our theoretical understanding of important leadership antecedents. The findings may also help practitioners in developing leadership skills and assisting managers in finding ways to moderate their natural tendencies and better depend on, delegate, and empower subordinates.Originality/valueThis empirical study provides evidence of the important role of perceived parental style in the development of adult attachment and leadership styles. The effects found in the study also extend the existing findings by showing that not only the attachment style but also parental style play a significant role in shaping the individual’s leadership behaviors.