Higher Attachment Avoidance Research Articles

A Diathesis-Stress Approach to Understanding Partner Maltreatment Perpetration: A Longitudinal Study.

Despite evidence suggesting that partner maltreatment-a concept which represents a wide array of negative, destructive, and abusive behaviors in romantic relationships-is likely to fluctuate over time, the longitudinal trajectory of partner maltreatment is unclear. This study aims to identify the average trajectory of partner maltreatment over a 5-month period before applying an attachment-informed diathesis-stress framework to explain points of escalation or de-escalation in partner maltreatment perpetration. Two hundred and eight individuals completed 5 monthly assessments of partner maltreatment as well as an assessment of adult attachment and perceived stress at baseline. A nonlinear (i.e., quadratic function) trajectory provided optimal fit for partner maltreatment perpetration over time. An interaction between attachment avoidance and perceived stress predicted the trajectory of partner maltreatment perpetration. Specifically, higher attachment avoidance and higher perceived stress predicted a small initial decline followed by a steep increase in partner maltreatment perpetration. No significant associations were found for the interaction between attachment anxiety and stress and partner maltreatment. The findings suggest that perpetration of partner maltreatment fluctuates over time, and that an attachment-informed diathesis-stress framework can be applied to explain levels of partner maltreatment perpetration and points of escalation and de-escalation over time.

Predicting change in relationship distress and depressive symptoms among couples in Taiwan: The role of attachment, emotional expressivity, and gender roles in Emotionally Focused Therapy.

This pilot study examined predictors of change in relationship distress and depressive symptoms over the course of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) in a one-arm, pragmatic clinical trial of 17 couples in Taiwan. Results revealed that masculine ideology, feminine ideology, traditionalism, and emotional expressivity at intake predicted change in relationship distress. Specifically, women's high traditional gender roles and traditionalism and both partners' high emotional expressivity at intake were associated with decreases in relationship distress over time. In addition, attachment and emotional expressivity predicted change in depressive symptoms. Specifically, high attachment avoidance, high attachment anxiety, and high emotional expressivity at intake were associated with decreases in depressive symptoms over time. While more research is needed, these findings offer preliminary support for the types of partners who may experience more improvement after receiving EFT in Taiwan.

Adult Attachment and Emotion Regulation Flexibility in Romantic Relationships.

Adults with attachment insecurity often struggle in romantic relationships due to difficulties in emotion regulation (ER). One potentially influential yet understudied factor is the inflexible over-reliance on either intrapersonal (self-directed, e.g., suppression) or interpersonal (involving others, e.g., sharing) ER. This study investigates the association between attachment insecurity and flexibility in using interpersonal versus intrapersonal ER in response to daily stressors in romantic relationships. We hypothesized that higher attachment avoidance and anxiety are associated with (H1) higher reliance on either intrapersonal or interpersonal ER over the other, respectively; (H2) less variable use of interpersonal compared to intrapersonal ER over time; and (H3) less flexible use of interpersonal compared to intrapersonal ER depending on the availability of a romantic partner. Study 1 (N = 174; 133 females, Mage = 23.79, SDage = 7.63) used an online cross-sectional survey to measure average inter/intrapersonal ER, addressing H1. Study 2 (N = 124; 104 females, Mage = 22.45, SDage = 6.39), combined a baseline survey with experience sampling (7 days, 8 notifications/day), addressing H1, H2, and H3. Results showed that higher attachment avoidance was associated with lower interpersonal compared to intrapersonal ER. Higher attachment anxiety was associated with less variable use of interpersonal compared to intrapersonal ER and less flexible use of interpersonal ER depending on partner availability. These findings suggest distinct associations between attachment orientations and ER flexibility, explaining ER difficulties in individuals with high attachment insecurity.

The need for affiliation and depression amidst the post-acute pandemic: The mediation of self-esteem and moderation of insecure attachment among university students

The study investigated the connection between the need for affiliation and depression in Chinese university students, considering the mediating role of self-esteem and the moderating effect of insecure attachment (both anxious and avoidant). Involving 804 students from two Chinese universities, participants provided self-reports on affiliation desire, self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and assessments of insecure attachment. The findings revealed that self-esteem partially mediated the relationship between the need for affiliation and depression. Both anxious and avoidant attachment styles moderated the connection between self-esteem and depression. A simple slopes analysis showed that high anxious attachment intensified the link between low self-esteem and high depression. Similarly, high avoidant attachment exacerbated the association between low self-esteem and higher levels of depression. The implications of these findings were discussed, emphasizing their significance for mental health support and interventions targeting university students.

The meaning of touch: Relational and individual variables shape emotions and intentions associated with imagined social touch.

Touch is a key channel for conveying meaning in social interactions. The affective quality of touch and its effects on well-being are shaped by relational context (relationship between touch giver vs. recipient) and person variables (e.g. adult attachment style). Yet, such effects have not been explored in relation to the meaning ascribed to touch. We used data from the Touch Test, the world's largest touch survey, which included questions on the degree to which people felt and related specific emotions and intentions to imagined gentle stroking touch and hugs. In N = 23,428, we examined how relational context (imagined source of touch) and person variables (gender, recalled positive childhood touch and adult attachment style) were associated with positive (e.g. love, desire, support) and negative (e.g. fear, anger, warning) emotions and intentions related to imagined touch. Love, desire and support were endorsed more when participants had had their partner (vs. someone else) in mind, and women (vs. men) gave lower ratings for desire overall. Gentle stroking touch was most linked with arousal when participants had had their partner in mind. Further, more positive childhood touch and secure and anxious attachment scores were associated with more positive emotions and intentions, while the opposite was found for avoidant attachment scores. Lastly, positive childhood touch and higher anxious attachment scores were related to greater discrimination between distinct emotion and intention categories, while higher attachment avoidance was associated with reduced discriminability. Thus, contextual and person variables matter in shaping the meaning of social touch.

High Heart Rate Variability Buffers the Effect of Attachment Insecurity on Sleep Quality.

Sleep quality is an important health-protective factor. Psychosocial factors, including attachment orientation, may be valuable for understanding who is at risk of poor sleep quality and associated adverse health outcomes. High attachment anxiety is reliably associated with adverse health outcomes, whereas high attachment avoidance is associated with adverse health outcomes when co-occurring with poor self-regulatory capacity, indexed by heart rate variability (HRV). We examined the associations between attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, HRV, and sleep quality. Using longitudinal data from a sample of 171 older adults measured four times over 1 year ( M = 66.18 years old; 67.83% women), we separated the between-person variance (which we call "trait") and within-person variance (which we call "state") for attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, and HRV (via the root mean square of successive differences). Sleep quality was measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Higher trait attachment anxiety was associated with poorer global sleep quality ( B = 0.22, p = .005). Higher state attachment avoidance was associated with poorer sleep quality ( B = -0.13, p = .01), except for those with higher trait HRV. Higher state attachment anxiety was associated with poorer sleep quality ( B = -0.15, p = .002), except for those with higher or mean trait HRV. Higher trait attachment anxiety was associated with poorer sleep quality ( B = -0.31, p = .02), except for those with higher trait HRV. High trait HRV mitigated the adverse effects of attachment insecurity on sleep quality. Our results suggest that people with high trait HRV had greater self-regulation capacity, which may enable them to enact emotion regulation strategies effectively.

The moderating role of parenting stress when it comes to romantic attachment and sexual satisfaction

Sexual satisfaction is at the heart of a thriving romantic relationship and is intertwined with both partners romantic attachment orientations. Prior research has found that insecure romantic attachment orientations (anxiety and avoidance) are associated with lower sexual satisfaction in oneself and one’s partner. Stress is known to exacerbate insecure attachment tendencies, and couples with children are often exposed to parenting stress, which has been associated with lower sexual satisfaction. It is therefore possible that parenting stress moderates the association between the attachment and sexual systems, such that among those who are high in parenting stress, the negative link between attachment insecurity and sexual satisfaction is stronger. The objective of this study was to examine the link between romantic attachment and sexual satisfaction, and the impact of parenting stress on this association. One hundred three mixed-sex couples completed self-report questionnaires and were included in actor and partner analyses. Both parents’ attachment avoidance was associated with their own reduced sexual satisfaction. Fathers’ attachment avoidance was associated with mothers’ reduced sexual satisfaction. Additionally, fathers’ parenting stress moderated the association between their own romantic attachment avoidance and their partner’s sexual satisfaction. Contrary to prediction, as fathers’ parenting stress increased, the association between their higher attachment avoidance and mothers’ lower sexual satisfaction became weaker. Findings are discussed in light of research and theory on the role of attachment and parenting stress for sexual satisfaction in couples with children.

Attachment Orientation and Preferences for Partners' Emotional Responses in Stressful and Positive Situations.

Attachment theory proposes that close relationships help us to regulate our emotions in stressful and positive situations. However, no previous studies have examined preferences for a partner's emotional response to one's own stressful and positive situations or tested whether these preferences differ based on attachment orientation. This study examines the association of attachment orientation and preferences for partners' emotional responses relative to one's own emotional responses in stressful and positive contexts among 425 United States adults who were currently in a committed relationship of ≥6 months. Data were collected in 2020. Overall, participants preferred their partners to feel and express less distress, less worry, more calm, and more hope than themselves during stressful situations and for their partners to feel and express more excitement, pride, and hope than themselves during positive situations. Higher attachment anxiety predicted preferences for partners to feel and express more distress/worry in stressful situations, whereas higher attachment avoidance predicted preferences for partners to feel and express less hope in stressful situations. Statistical interactions of attachment anxiety × attachment avoidance indicated that the combination of low attachment anxiety and high attachment avoidance (dismissing avoidance) was associated with preferences for partners to feel and express less positive emotions in positive situations, whereas the combination of high attachment anxiety and high attachment avoidance (fearful avoidance) was associated with preferences for partners to feel and express more negative emotions in stressful situations and less positive emotions in positive situations. This investigation provides novel evidence for links between attachment orientation and preferences for partners' emotional responses in two theoretically important contexts, which has implications for the nature and function of emotion regulation in close relationships. Future research is needed to determine the generalizability of these findings to more collectivist cultural contexts.

Attachment avoidance predicts limited and selective sharing of personal events in close relationships

AbstractCommunicating personal experiences is crucial for fostering close relationships, but people can be reluctant to self‐disclose. The current research assessed the extent to which relationship‐specific (RS) and global attachment avoidance limit self‐disclosure of personal events in close relationships. Critically, we also identified the types of personal events that people will selectively share in relationships characterized by higher attachment avoidance. Participants (N = 609 in the aggregated sample) reported whether they shared up to four positive and four negative events that happened to them recently with up to eight close network‐members. We found that a one scale‐point increase in RS or global attachment avoidance (7‐point scales) predicted a 68% decrease or a 28% decrease in the odds of sharing, respectively. Nevertheless, people in more avoidant relationships did share personal events selectively: they uniquely prioritized sharing positive events, events that conveyed personal competence, and events that avoided vulnerability. Our findings shed light on the underlying factors contributing to the low likelihood of sharing personal experiences in more avoidant relationships and offer insights for future intervention work.

Belonging to the Ace Spectrum: Correlates of Cognitions, Feelings, and Desires of Ace Individuals

Abstract Introduction Asexuality is typically defined as a lack of sexual attraction, and yet this definition fails to include the multitude of experiences within the ace community. We explored the correlates of different cognitions, feelings, and desires reported by ace individuals. Methods Data for a cross-sectional study with 456 individuals from online ace communities (61.8% women; Mage = 24.62, SD = 6.98) were collected in 2019. Results Higher scores on the Asexuality Identification Scale (AIS) were associated with fewer experiences with romantic partners, more experiences with intimate affective relationships, and higher avoidant attachment. In contrast, sexual and romantic attractions were associated with more experiences with romantic partners. However, sexual attraction was associated with fewer experiences with non-sexual romantic relationships and lower AIS scores, whereas romantic attraction was associated with lower avoidant attachment and higher anxious attachment. The desire to have physically intimate romantic relationships was associated with more experiences with romantic partners, lower avoidant attachment, higher anxious attachment, and lower AIS scores. Lastly, the desire to have intimate affective relationships was associated with more experiences with solely affective relationships and higher anxiety attachment. Conclusions These findings show the importance of past experiences and individual differences in shaping the way ace individuals construe their identity, and experience feelings and desires. Policy Implications By highlighting the need to acknowledge diversity within the ace community, this study offers insights into how to increase awareness and develop more inclusive social policies.

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

Although social anxiety disorder (SAD) is widespread and associated with significant distress, its etiology is not yet fully explored. We aimed to examine how metacognitions and mindfulness interact with SAD symptoms. 531 college students were enrolled in this study. Participants completed the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), the Metacognition Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30), and the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). A path analysis was run to explore the associations between test variables. A positive correlation was found between metacognition and SAD symptoms, while mindfulness negatively correlated with SAD symptoms and metacognition. In the established path model, metacognition had an indirect effect on SAD symptoms, which is partially mediated by mindfulness. Our findings imply that metacognitions and mindfulness may influence SAD symptoms among young adults. Mindfulness seems to have a prominent role in regulating metacognition?s effects on SAD symptoms. Therefore, interventions that accurately target these factors may alleviate the symptoms of this debilitating psychological disturbance.

Changes in attachment dimensions during the treatment of acute post-traumatic stress disorder in sexually assaulted Brazilian women.

Attachment patterns are established during early childhood; however, extreme experiences throughout life may change this structure, either toward attachment security or insecurity. We analyzed changes in attachment dimensions in women with acute post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following sexual assault, that were randomized to a 14-week treatment with either the medication sertraline or Interpersonal Psychotherapy. Seventy-four adult women who presented significant reduction in PTSD symptoms across the trial responded to the Revised Adult Attachment Scale at baseline, on week 8 of treatment, and at the end of the trial, on week 14. We fitted a generalized linear model to explain the attachment anxiety and avoidance scores at baseline. A generalized linear mixed model investigated how attachment dimensions changed over time. Socioeconomic data, treatment type, history of childhood trauma, and PTSD severity over the 14-week period were the considered covariates. At baseline, attachment anxiety was associated with a history of early trauma. Attachment anxiety remained stable during the follow-up. Attachment avoidance, on the other hand, significantly increased from baseline to week 14. Higher avoidance was observed in patients with higher total PTSD scores and on the cluster of hyperarousal symptoms. Races other than White (black, mixed-race, or Asian) and younger age were associated with higher attachment avoidance. Contrary to our expectations, attachment avoidance increased during follow-up, indicating changes in the interpersonal realm beyond the symptoms of PTSD.

Retraction of Robinson et al. (2015).

Reports the retraction of "Crying as communication in psychotherapy: The influence of client and therapist attachment dimensions and client attachment to therapist on amount and type of crying" by Noah Robinson, Clara E. Hill and Dennis M. Kivlighan Jr. (Journal of Counseling Psychology, 2015[Jul], Vol 62[3], 379-392). The following article is being retracted (https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000090). This retraction is at the request of coauthors Kivlighan and Hill after the results of an investigation by the University of Maryland Institutional Review Board (IRB). The IRB found that the study included data from between one and four therapy clients of the Maryland Psychotherapy Clinic and Research Laboratory (MPCRL) who either had not been asked to provide consent or had withdrawn consent for their data to be included in the research. Robinson was not responsible for obtaining and verifying participant consent but agreed to the retraction of this article. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2015-23479-001.) Nelson (2005) associated 3 types of crying (inhibited, protest, despair) with 3 dimensions of attachment (avoidant, anxious, and secure). To test this theory, trained judges rated the intensity of inhibition, protest, and despair in 347 crying episodes for 40 clients and 14 therapists in 1,074 psychotherapy sessions. Crying occurred once out of every 7 sessions, and usually was characterized by protest or inhibition. Pre-therapy attachment dimensions of both therapist and client influenced crying. Therapists with high attachment avoidance had clients who cried frequently but less over time, whereas therapists with high attachment anxiety had clients who cried with more protest over time. Clients with high attachment anxiety initially cried with more protest and inhibition, but decreased over time, whereas clients with low attachment anxiety increased protest over time. Throughout the course of psychotherapy, therapists who were seen by their clients as establishing a secure attachment elicited more overall crying and a higher intensity of protest, whereas therapists who were seen by their clients as establishing insecure attachments had clients who cried less. Clients who established a secure or avoidant relationship with their therapists, relative to other clients of that therapist, cried infrequently and with inhibition, whereas clients who established a preoccupied relationship cried relatively often. Changes are suggested for Nelson's (2005) typology. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Attachment and general well-being in breast cancer patients: Mediation of body esteem and social support

This study aimed to explore the mediation of body esteem and social support in the relationship between attachment and general well-being in breast cancer patients. We collected data from 150 women with breast cancer and 150 healthy women. Employing bootstrap analysis with 5 000 samples using the ordinary least squares regression, we found that higher attachment avoidance was significantly associated with lower general well-being in both the breast cancer patients and healthy comparison peers. Also, body esteem and social support were significantly associated with attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance and general well-being. Furthermore, body esteem significantly mediated the relationship between attachment avoidance and well-being in breast cancer patients directly through social support; while social support significantly mediated the relationship between attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance and well-being in breast cancer women directly by body esteem. Therefore, body esteem and social support played a chain intermediary role between attachment avoidance and well-being. These findings suggest a need for breast cancer support programmes for women to enhance their body esteem and sense of social support in the context of their recovery efforts.

Attachment Insecurity and Stigma as Predictors of Depression and Anxiety in People Living With HIV.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether attachment insecurity, stigma, and certain demographic and medical factors predict depression and anxiety in people living with HIV (PLWH). Participants were 147 PLWH who visited the outpatient infection clinic in Kyungpook National University Hospital (KNUH; Daegu, South Korea) between June 2020 and January 2021. We measured HIV-related stigma, attachment anxiety and avoidance, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms. Logistic regression analysis showed that unemployment, longer time receiving antiretroviral therapy, higher attachment avoidance, and higher attachment anxiety were significant predictors of depression. Results also showed that longer time receiving antiretroviral therapy, higher attachment anxiety, and concern with public attitudes were significant predictors of anxiety. In addition to education to reduce public stigma, interventions to reduce PLWH's self-stigma should continue. We suggest attachment-based psychotherapy as an effective intervention to improve PLWH's mental health.

대학생의 회피애착과 전문적 도움추구 태도 관계에서 자아존중감의 조절효과

Objectives This study aims to verify whether the effect of undergraduate students' avoidant attachment on professional help-seeking attitude is regulated by self-esteem.
 Methods Data were collected from March 2020 to December 2021 using a structured questionnaire for four-year college students nationwide, and a total of 323 data analysis was conducted from the first half of 2022. In the data analysis, frequency analysis, correlation and reliability analysis were performed according to the general characteristics of the subject, and the influence of each variable on the dependent variable was classified due to the interrelationship between the variables.
 Results There was a significant positive correlation between college students' avoidance attachment, professional help-seeking attitude, and self-esteem, and as a result of hierarchical regression analysis, the interaction effect of avoidance attachment and self-esteem was paid attention to professional help-seeking attitude. In other words, it was verified that self-eseem controls the relationship between professional help pursuit and avoidance attachment.
 Conclusions The results of this study suggest that even undergraduate students with high avoidant attachment can approach professional help-seeking effectively if they are willing to improve their self-esteem.

Effect of Problem Area on Outcomes Among Adolescents Treated With Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depression.

Interpersonal psychotherapy for adolescents (IPT-A) aims to treat depression by addressing one of four problem areas: grief, role disputes, role transitions, or interpersonal deficits. This study compared the characteristics of adolescents by problem area and evaluated the impact of problem area on outcomes. Forty adolescents (ages 12-17) participated in a randomized trial of adaptive treatment strategies that included IPT-A. Adolescents with role disputes were younger than adolescents with interpersonal deficits or role transitions and had worse expectations for therapeutic alliance than those in the transitions group. Adolescents with interpersonal deficits had higher attachment avoidance than those in the transitions group. Posttreatment, adolescents in the transitions group had more severe depression and social adjustment problems than those in the deficits group and more social adjustment problems than those in the disputes group. This preliminary study's findings suggest that differing IPT-A problem areas may affect prognosis.

Internalized homonegativity moderates the association between attachment avoidance and emotional intimacy among same-sex male couples.

The present study aimed to examine dyadic associations between attachment insecurity and emotional intimacy in same-sex male couples, and to investigate whether and how each partner's internalized homonegativity (IH) moderated these associations. The sample included 138 same-sex male couples. Both dyad members completed self-report measures of attachment insecurity, emotional intimacy, and IH. The actor-partner interdependence model with moderation analysis was applied. Indicated that higher levels of actor's and partner's attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance were associated with lower actor's emotional intimacy. IH moderated the partner effects of attachment avoidance on emotional intimacy. The partner's higher attachment avoidance was associated with one's own lower emotional intimacy at low (but not high) levels of one's own IH and at high (but not low) levels of the partner's IH. Findings suggest that the partner's attachment avoidance may differently affect one's own emotional intimacy depending on the IH levels of both dyad members. Helping partnered sexual minority men decrease attachment insecurity while recognizing their own and their partners' IH may promote relationship quality.

In safe hands: Attachment figures’ safety properties and the link with attachment style

According to the Learning Theory of Attachment, naturalistic learning experiences about others' responsiveness during distress are an underlying mechanism in the development of attachment. Previous studies have demonstrated attachment figures' unique safety-inducing effects in highly controlled conditioning procedures. Yet, neither have studies examined the presumed influence of safety learning on state attachment, nor have they examined how attachment figures' safety-inducing effects relate to attachment styles. To address these gaps, a differential fear conditioning paradigm was used in which pictures of participants’ attachment figure and two control stimuli served as safety cues (CS-). US-expectancy and distress ratings were measured as indicators of fear responding.Results indicate that attachment figures evoked enhanced safety responding compared to control safety cues at the start of acquisition, which was maintained throughout acquisition and when presented together with a danger cue. Attachment figures' safety-inducing effects were reduced in individuals with higher attachment avoidance, although attachment style did not affect the rate of new safety learning. Finally, safe experiences with the attachment figure in the fear conditioning procedure resulted in diminished anxious state attachment. Adding to previous work, these findings underscore the importance of learning processes for attachment development and attachment figures’ provision of safety.

The Relationship between Attachment, Dyadic Adjustment, and Sexuality: A Comparison between Infertile Men and Women.

Infertility impacts several life dimensions. Among them, sexuality is particularly affected; yet studies have mainly focused on infertile women. We aimed to explore infertile men's and women's experiences in sexual satisfaction, internal control, and anxiety, and the relationship between attachment, dyadic adjustment, and sexuality. The sample consisted of 129 infertile people (47.3% females, 52.7% males, Mage = 39 years) who fulfilled an ad hoc questionnaire, the Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire (MSQ), the Experiences in Close Relationship-Revised (ECR-R), and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS). We found a significant effect of type of infertility and infertility factors on sexual anxiety only in infertile men. As regards infertile women, dyadic adjustment predicted sexual satisfaction, anxious attachment decreased sexual internal control, and avoidant attachment reduced sexual anxiety. As regards infertile men, high dyadic adjustment increased sexual satisfaction and a high avoidant attachment predicted high levels of sexual internal control. There was no relationship between attachment, dyadic adjustment, and sexual anxiety for infertile men. From the results, it emerges how important is to consider both dyadic adjustment and attachment in studying how infertility impacts women's and men's lives.